Nigeria provided the United States with intelligence that preceded U.S. strikes against Islamic State militants in the northwest of the country on Christmas Day, according to Nigeria's foreign ministry. The disclosure followed a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed responsibility for ordering the strikes, citing the targeting of Christians by the group.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told ChannelsTV that he had been in communication with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and confirmed the intelligence sharing. "We spoke twice. We spoke for 19 minutes," Tuggar stated.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, asserted that the U.S. military had conducted strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria. He framed the operation as a response to the group's alleged targeting of Christians. "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, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries! 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," Trump wrote. He further added, "The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing."

The U.S. military's involvement in Nigeria raises questions about the extent of cooperation between the two nations in combating Islamist militancy. Nigeria has been grappling with various security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and banditry in the northwest. The presence of Islamic State-affiliated groups in the region has further complicated the security landscape.

The Nigerian government has been working to strengthen its security capabilities and collaborate with international partners to address these threats. The sharing of intelligence with the U.S. underscores the ongoing security cooperation between the two countries. However, the specific details of the intelligence provided and the extent of the U.S. military's operations in Nigeria remain unclear. The U.S. government has yet to issue an official statement confirming or elaborating on the strikes. The situation is developing, and further details are expected to emerge as both governments provide more information.