The Nigerian military has stepped up its land and air operations across parts of the northern region after United States President Donald Trump threatened to consider sending American forces to Nigeria over reports of attacks on Christians. His warning, delivered through a post on his Truth Social platform, sent shockwaves through both the Nigerian government and international observers. Trump said he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for what he called “possible action” if the alleged persecution of Christians persisted. He also warned that Washington could suspend all aid and assistance to Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu’s administration failed to act decisively.
Trump’s words carried his usual fiery tone. He wrote, “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now-disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
The post instantly reignited global debate about sovereignty, foreign intervention, and religious violence in Africa’s most populous country. Nigerian officials reportedly held a series of emergency meetings after Trump’s statement gained traction online. Many observers saw it as an attempt to pressure the Tinubu administration into intensifying its counterterrorism efforts.
Meanwhile, within Nigeria’s conflict zones, rival terrorist factions have turned their weapons on each other. In Borno State’s Abadam Local Government Area, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) clashed violently in a battle for territorial control that left more than 50 fighters dead. The confrontation erupted on Sunday evening in Toumbun Gini, an island community in the Lake Chad Basin. ISWAP reportedly launched an assault to reclaim the area recently taken by Boko Haram.
A video obtained by YEPS showed bloodied corpses floating in a canoe while fighters shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an indication that Boko Haram repelled ISWAP’s offensive. Local sources said ISWAP deployed around ten heavily armed watercraft for the attack, but Boko Haram ambushed them after receiving prior intelligence about their movement. One source recounted, “ISWAP boats landed, but what they thought would be a surprise attack became a deadly trap. The first shots were decisive. JAS fighters overwhelmed them within minutes and completely routed them.”
Boko Haram reportedly killed over fifty ISWAP combatants, seized seven of their boats, and forced three others to flee with casualties. The fate of ISWAP’s next move remains uncertain. Despite the high death toll, security forces have not confirmed the figures, as they continue to gather intelligence from the region.
Attempts by YEPS to contact Lt. Col. Uba Sani, the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered. However, military sources confirmed that the battle took place hours after troops from the 135 Special Forces Battalion thwarted a Boko Haram ambush targeting civilians in Dutse Kura. The troops rescued 86 civilians and apprehended 29 suspects accused of supplying logistics to the terrorists.
Lt. Col. Sani, in an official statement, said Boko Haram fighters attempted to kidnap civilians and seize vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya road, but soldiers swiftly intervened. Troops pursued the insurgents to Mangari, where they discovered 11 makeshift structures used as a camp. Soldiers recovered one AK-47 rifle, five magazines with 73 rounds of ammunition, four PKT ammunition belts, five vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two tricycles before destroying the camp.
In a separate operation in Mangada, troops intercepted two pickup vans and a tricycle transporting about 1,000 litres of petrol, engine oil, gun-truck tyres, food items, and medical supplies believed to be heading to terrorist enclaves in Chilaria. Soldiers arrested 29 suspected logistics suppliers during the operation. Fortunately, no troop casualties were recorded during these missions, a development that boosted morale among the forces stationed in the North-East.
While ground troops intensified their offensive, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) simultaneously launched precision airstrikes across terrorist and bandit hideouts in Borno, Katsina, Kwara, and other northern states. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF spokesperson, said in a statement that the operations destroyed several hideouts, weapons storage depots, logistics hubs, and neutralised numerous terrorists.
He explained that the airstrikes in Borno State targeted ISWAP elements entrenched in the Northern Tumbuns, where surveillance feeds had detected heavy movement of fighters on motorcycles and boats. Using real-time intelligence, air assets carried out coordinated strikes in Shuwaram and Mallam Fatori, eliminating dozens of fighters and crippling their mobility capabilities.
“The Nigerian Air Force intensified its counterterrorism and counter-banditry operations nationwide with precision strikes that neutralised ISWAP terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, and destroyed bandit enclaves in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in Katsina State,” Ejodame stated. “Guided by real-time intelligence, air assets conducted multiple strikes that dealt a decisive blow to terrorist networks.”
He added that post-strike assessments confirmed multiple enemy neutralisations and significant damage to ISWAP’s operational structure. The strikes reportedly disrupted several planned attacks and supply routes, limiting the insurgents’ ability to regroup.
In addition to the operations in Borno, NAF aircraft struck bandit camps in Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State and conducted armed reconnaissance missions across Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna. The strikes at Zango Hill in Katsina targeted a terrorist kingpin and his fighters who had long terrorised residents along the Kankara–Funtua axis.
Ejodame described how intelligence units monitored the terrorists’ hideout before launching a coordinated assault under Operation FANSAN YAMMA. “Guided by actionable intelligence and ISR surveillance, air assets executed multiple attack passes, destroying logistics hubs and neutralising several fighters. It was one of the most decisive strikes in the region,” he said.
The statement added that the air component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out continuous reconnaissance missions across northwest corridors, focusing on settlements like Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello. These areas, he explained, serve as major routes and hideouts for criminal gangs operating along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.
During one mission, the aircrew spotted terrorists attempting to flee near Wam Hill on motorcycles. Soldiers from Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro coordinated with the air units, resulting in swift engagement and elimination of the targets. The airstrike halted further movement in the area, restoring temporary calm to nearby communities.
Ejodame concluded that the latest string of operations demonstrated NAF’s sustained commitment to President Tinubu’s directive to completely eliminate terrorist threats in the country. He noted that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, had ordered continued intelligence-led missions to ensure the security of all affected states.
Meanwhile, political analysts and human rights advocates have reacted to Trump’s threats and the military’s intensified response. Some analysts argue that while Nigeria must assert its sovereignty, it cannot afford to ignore global attention on human rights and religious freedom. Others see Trump’s statement as an attempt to reassert U.S. dominance in global security issues, particularly in Africa.
Religious leaders have also expressed concern, warning that such rhetoric from a world leader could inflame existing tensions in the country. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called for calm, urging both the government and citizens to focus on unity and peace rather than panic. Muslim leaders, on the other hand, called for fairness in addressing religious violence and asked that all victims, regardless of faith, receive justice.
In the midst of these political and military developments, ordinary Nigerians continue to live under the shadow of fear and uncertainty. Many displaced families in the North still depend on humanitarian aid for survival, while communities near conflict zones remain deserted. Despite the airstrikes and counterattacks, insurgents continue to adapt, shifting their bases and exploiting ungoverned spaces.
For now, the military’s renewed vigor and the international spotlight have placed Nigeria’s fight against terrorism at the center of global attention. Whether the situation will lead to lasting peace or further escalation depends on how the government balances internal reforms with diplomatic restraint.
Trump’s comments, though deeply controversial, have once again focused global attention on Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with terrorism and insecurity. His fiery warning reignited international debate about how much influence foreign powers should wield over sovereign nations. Yet beyond the controversy, his statement underscored a painful truth—Nigeria’s future depends on its own ability to protect its people and preserve national unity.
The Nigerian military’s intensified operations across the northern region reflect not just a response to external pressure but a renewed determination to reclaim territories and restore peace. Soldiers on the frontlines continue to risk their lives daily, demonstrating that the fight against terror is not only a matter of defense but of dignity and survival. No foreign army, regardless of its strength, can secure the peace Nigerians desire more than their own resolve can. The nation now stands at a crucial crossroads where courage, unity, and decisive leadership will determine whether the recent surge in operations becomes the turning point in a long and painful war—or merely another cycle of struggle in Nigeria’s enduring battle against terror. The coming weeks will test not just military strength but also the resilience and faith of a nation determined to survive.