A special adviser to the Nigerian president has told Sky News details about who the US hit in Christmas Day strikes in the country were “sketchy” – despite Donald Trump’s claims.
The US president, in a Truth Social post announcing the attack, said that “ISIS terrorist scum” had been targeted with “powerful and deadly strikes”.
In a series of attacks on 25 December, the US hit areas of northwestern Nigeria, working in cooperation with the country’s government.
However, Bola Tinubu, adviser to the president in Abuja, told Sky News that he wasn’t sure who exactly was targeted in Washington’s strikes.
Instead, Mr Tinubu said that details were “sketchy” and he hoped more information would emerge in the coming hours and days. He also said he hoped his country’s cooperation with the US would continue.
Mr Tinubu added that it could have been Lakurawa, Boko Haram or the so-called Islamic State – or affiliated groups – that were targeted.
Trump’s claims of Christian persecution
The attacks came about after persistent claims from the White House and Mr Trump in recent months that Christians were being persecuted and attacked in Nigeria.
It is true that Christian communities have suffered in the country – where multiple armed groups operate and pose challenges to the government – but data suggests violence against Muslim communities has been reported at a similar rate.
When it comes to attacks on religious sites, more have been reported at mosques over the past year than at churches.
Before 2025, incidents at churches were more common.
It’s been suggested to Sky News, including by the Nigerian president’s adviser, that Mr Trump’s claims of Christian persecution were more for his domestic support base.
‘My family is afraid’
On the ground in Nigeria, locals were left rattled by the attacks.
So far, strikes have been confirmed to have taken place in Jabo, in the Sokoto region, and in Offa, in the Kwara region.
In Jabo, Balira Sa’idu said the strikes “changed everything”. The 17-year-old added: “I am supposed to be thinking about my wedding, but right now I am panicking. The strike has changed everything. My family is afraid, and I don’t even know if it is safe to continue with the wedding plan in Jabo.”
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Sanusi Madabo, a 40-year-old farmer, said he was preparing for bed in the same village when he heard a loud noise that sounded like a plane crashing. He said he and his wife rushed outside to see the sky glowing red.
The light from the fire burned bright for hours, Madabo said, adding: “It was almost like daytime.”
He only learned later that he had witnessed the US attack on an alleged IS camp.
After the strikes were announced on Christmas Day, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media post: “More to come…”
