Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has revealed that the Nigerian government provided the intelligence and formally approved the US airstrike on terrorist targets in the country.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, less than 10 hours after the U.S. confirmed the precision strike in north-western Nigeria, Tuggar said the operation was part of ongoing counter-terrorism collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that Nigerian authorities are engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” aimed at tackling terrorism and violent extremism.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed late Thursday on his official Truth Social account that the U.S. Department of War had carried out lethal strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in north-western Nigeria.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also affirmed that the operation was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, highlighting ongoing intelligence sharing that enabled the precision airstrikes in Sokoto State.
Minister Tuggar said, “It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence. I was on the phone yesterday for 19 minutes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the United States. We spoke extensively, and we agreed that I was going to speak with President Tinubu for President Tinubu to give the go-ahead.
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“And I did speak with him and it was agreed also that the statements that would follow would be statements that would show clearly that it is a strike against terrorism and that it is part of the ongoing joint operations between Nigeria and collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.”
The minister added, “Nigeria has remained consistent in its approach, which is to work with all partners that are committed to the fight against terrorism, irrespective of what religion, who the victims are, whether they are Muslims or Christians, and irrespective of what type of terrorism, be it terrorism being carried out in the name of one religion or the other, or indeed even bandage. So this is an ongoing process.
“We have been working closely with the Americans. This is what we’ve always been hoping for: to work with the Americans, work with other countries to combat terrorism, to stop the death of innocent Nigerians. So this is a vindication of the Tinubu administration.
“For those who thought that there was some foot-dragging or, you know, the government wasn’t doing enough, it is a clear indication that we are committed and we are prepared to work with all countries.”
He stressed that the operation had nothing to do with religion, noting that its sole purpose was to protect innocent lives, whether Nigerian or foreign.
“It is not to do with religion, it is to do with protecting Nigerians and the innocent lives of either Nigerians or non-Nigerians. This was clear. We spoke twice.
“We spoke for 19 minutes before the strike, and then we spoke again for another five minutes before it went on,” he said.
