Trump’s Nigeria Strikes Protect Christians and Put Terrorists on Notice

In the days since President Donald Trump’s Christmas Day strikes on terrorists in Nigeria, the global media has downplayed and even criticized the targeted attacks. But there is no denying that Trump’s bold move was a heartening moment for Christians in the African nation who have faced a relentless campaign of murder and persecution in recent years even as global elites ignored their plight.

Since 2010, more than 50,000 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa. Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram have slaughtered entire villages of Christians. Almost no one in the mainstream media was even willing to acknowledge this ongoing genocide until Trump forced them to cover it.

Then, on December 25, Trump announced a series of strikes against Islamic State forces in Sokoto, Nigeria. He explained that the terrorists had previously targeted Christians with severe brutality. Trump insisted that only America could conduct such precise strikes and clarified that the Department of War carried out the attack that same day.

Christians on the ground in Nigeria applauded Trump’s actions.

Father Camillus, who leads ten parishes in the northeast part of the country, described his churchgoers as having renewed hope in an interview with this author: “The strikes brought back confidence,” he said. Some Christians recounted seeing militants flee north in panic, caught off guard.

“We know it worked,” Father Camillus said. “The bad people, as we call them, did not threaten us for the last 48 hours. I hope and pray we will have lasting peace again. People are thankful to the United States government.”

A priest and deacon in the northwest said waves of gratitude swept their communities. The attack lifted a heavy burden and brought deep relief to local Christians. One believer told a priest he felt “as if Jericho’s walls collapsed.”

Bishop John Bogna Bakeni of Maiduguri referred to the response as “long overdue.” He added, “The Nigerian government should be receptive to international support in addressing ongoing insecurity.”

Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the country’s largest ecumenical body, noted that this Christmas was the most peaceful in recent memory. “We are very happy about this,” Okoh told the media. “I can say this Christmas marks the first in many years when we were not woken up by urgent calls about church attacks. This is a story we must share.”

Emeka Umeagbalasi, president of Intersociety, described ongoing security challenges facing Christians. He explained that Christians form the majority in the affected areas and face significant threats from armed groups: “At least 22 terrorist groups attack regularly, with militants crossing into Nigeria daily from the north.” He mentioned incidents in 35 of 36 states.

In total, 16 precision-guided bombs from MQ-9 Reaper drones struck terrorist strongholds. Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris stated that President Bola Tinubu approved the mission. Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar also disclosed Nigeria’s authorization of the strikes, indicating that the operation had been planned in advance. Idris reported that the attack disrupted ISIS fighters attempting to enter Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.

“Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan and execute large-scale terrorist attacks within Nigerian territory,” the statement emphasized.

Prior to the strikes, attacks on Christians had intensified throughout the country. In late November, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state, breaking up a prayer session. Three worshippers died. Thirty-eight others, including the pastor, were abducted. A video of the attack during praise and worship surfaced on X and spread nationwide.

Amid the crisis, the Christian Association of Nigeria voiced outrage, urging security forces to act quickly and rescue the abducted worshippers. The violence also prompted statements from prominent Nigerian celebrities, including music executive Don Jazzy, gospel singer Moses Bliss, and rapper Panshak Henry Zamani (Ice Prince).

Bliss voiced anguish at those minimizing violence in Nigeria, urging the public to demand accountability and support efforts to end bloodshed. Ice Prince called the attack a tragedy and pointed to Nigeria’s 25 years of trouble. He told President Tinubu to act quickly and make changes.

Amid public backlash, Tinubu canceled his planned trip to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. After five agonizing days, the worshippers were finally rescued and returned home safely.

A day before the attack on Kwara, militants stormed a girls’ school in Kebbi state and abducted 25 students. Another terrorist group swept through Zamfara, taking 64 people, including Christian women and children. Zamfara borders Kebbi and Sokoto states, where the U.S. military operations occurred.

At nearly the same time as those attacks, gunmen abducted 130 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state. They were held for a month before finally being released on December 23.

“These are only the main events reported. Many crimes go unnoticed daily,” said a senior Kebbi State priest who requested anonymity. “For a long time, the government appeared outmatched.”

Trump’s decisive action sent a long-overdue message that this systematic terror and slaughter of Christians will no longer be ignored, excused, or buried. By pairing moral clarity with overwhelming force, the United States reaffirmed that protecting innocent lives still matters. For terrorists and the regimes that tolerate them, the warning is unmistakable.

Ben Solis is the pen name of an international affairs journalist, historian, and researcher.