Nigeria collaborated with US on strikes against ISIS, says FG

The ministry of foreign affairs says Nigeria collaborated with the United States on the strikes against ISIS terrorists in Sokoto.

In a statement signed Friday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, ministry spokesperson, the federal government said the “precision hits” was in keeping with “structured security cooperation with international partners”.

“The Federal Government continues to work closely with its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats, while strengthening Nigeria’s own security institutions and intelligence capabilities,” Ebienfa said.

Last night, US President Donald Trump announced the “powerful and deadly” strikes against the terrorists.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later noted that the strikes were at “the request of Nigerian authorities”.

Ebienfa confirmed casualty figures but he said the data had yet to be made available.

Ebienfa also said more strikes were expected given that “the terrorists continue to pose a threat to the nation’s security”.

The hits come nearly two months after Trump had threatened to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians”, after some US politicians repeatedly claimed that there was a genocide against Christians in the West African nation.

It also comes weeks after flight tracking data showed that the US has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November.

On November 21, Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), met Pete Hegseth, US defence secretary, following Trump’s threat.

After the meeting, Hegseth said his department would work “aggressively” with Nigeria to end the alleged “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists”.

Ribadu and Hegseth’s meeting held the same day congress heard allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Weeks after the hearing, Riley Moore, a congressman, said Nigeria and the US were close to reaching an agreement on a “strategic security framework” aimed at tackling terrorism in the West African country.

Moore spoke after a “fact-finding mission” to Nigeria to examine allegations of a Christian genocide in the country.

The lawmaker did not give details of the security framework.

Hegseth said Christmas Day’s strikes were only the first of many hits.

In a concurring tweet, Moore said: “Do not test President Trump‘s resolved in this matter. Tonight’s strike in coordination with the Nigerian government is just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians.”

TUGGAR: NIGERIA COMMITTED TO RELIGIOUS HARMONY

In a statement, Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, said Nigeria will continue to strengthen its institutions to protect all religious adherents, ensure social cohesion, and promote harmonious coexistence across the country.

He re-affirmed that the safety, dignity, and rights of Nigerians of all faiths, both at home and in the diaspora, remain a priority of government policy and diplomatic engagement.

“The Nigerian state is founded on the principle of freedom of worship and mutual respect among its people,” a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, quoted the minister as saying.

Tuggar said the government remains resolute in ensuring that no citizen is excluded or marginalised on account of their faith.