Friday December 26, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
A United States, US Congressman, Riley Moore, has said recent US military air strikes carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government are only the beginning of efforts to end the killing of Christians and tackle Nigeria’s wider security crisis.
Moore made the remark on Friday, December 26, in a post on X, reacting to the strikes ordered by US President Donald Trump against Islamic State (ISIS) elements operating in Nigeria’s North-West.
“President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” Moore wrote.
“As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump’s resolve in this matter. Tonight’s strike in coordination with the Nigerian government is just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians.”
The comments followed confirmation by President Trump that US forces carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” against ISIS targets in North-West Nigeria after repeated attacks on Christian communities.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said he personally authorised the military action after earlier warnings to the terrorists went unheeded.
“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.
He added that the attacks followed prior warnings to halt the killings or face severe consequences.
“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,” he said.
President Trump said the operation was executed by the US Department of War, stressing Washington’s determination to confront radical Islamic terrorism.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” he stated.
In a Christmas message accompanying the announcement, Trump warned that further attacks would follow if the killings persist.
“May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists — of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he added.
Also reacting, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation during the air strikes, which were carried out on Christmas Day as part of a broader US-led operation targeting terrorist enclaves in the North-West.
Hegseth disclosed this in a post on X after meeting a Nigerian delegation in the United States, following Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern by the Trump administration.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth wrote.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come. Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”
Airstrikes First Step To Ending Killings In Nigeria— US Lawmaker Riley Moore
