U.S. Strikes On ISIS Prevented Christmas Attacks In Nigeria, Says Congressman

A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has said U.S. strikes carried out on Christmas Day in Nigeria helped prevent terrorist attacks that have previously turned the Christian celebration into a period of bloodshed.

Moore compared the deadly Christmas attacks recorded in Nigeria over the past two years with the military action taken this year, arguing that Islamist militants were targeted instead of Christian communities.

In a post on X on Saturday, the lawmaker said Christians had been killed during recent Christmas seasons, but that this year saw a different outcome.

“For the past two Christmases, Christians have been murdered in Nigeria. This year, thanks to @POTUS, Radical Islamic Terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present,” Moore wrote.

He added that the strikes, which he said were conducted against Islamic State (ISIS) elements, were carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government.

“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.

President Donald Trump had earlier announced that U.S. forces conducted strikes against ISIS-linked terrorists in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, warning that more attacks would follow if militants continued killing Christians.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the strikes targeted terrorists responsible for repeated attacks on Christian communities in the region.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote.

“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” the president said, vowing that further action would follow if the killings continued.

The Nigerian government confirmed the strikes on Friday, stating the operation was part of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

Nigeria has witnessed deadly attacks on Christian communities in recent years. On Christmas Eve in 2023, at least 140 people were killed and several others went missing after gunmen attacked remote villages in Plateau State.

In 2024, herdsmen reportedly attacked five predominantly Christian communities in Benue State on Christmas Day, killing at least 33 people.