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Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese

Appears in 1 story

Stories

Trump's first strike in Nigeria

Force in Play

Cautioned against external framing of Nigeria's crisis

On Christmas night 2025, American warplanes struck ISIS-linked camps in northwest Nigeria, killing multiple militants in the first direct U.S. combat action inside the countryโ€”now over seven weeks ago. The operation, approved by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu after months of Trump administration threats, targeted Lakurawa/ISSP elements in Sokoto State but alarmed Jabo village residents who reported civilian panic from a missile hitting farmland. By mid-February 2026, escalation deepened as U.S. Africa Command deployed around 200 military personnel, with the initial 100 troops arriving on February 17 at Bauchi Airfield to train and support Nigerian counterterrorism efforts. Nigeria's Defence Headquarters confirmed the deployment was 'planned and deliberate' following a formal Federal Government request for military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing.

Updated Feb 18