Nigeria's government has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for attacking Christians.
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.
