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

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, said the strikes were carried out at his direction as Commander in Chief. He described the targeted individuals as "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!" Trump added, "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. 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 Washington's counter-terrorism operations in West Africa and the nature of its security partnerships with regional governments. Nigeria has been grappling with multifaceted security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts in the north-central and northwest, and separatist agitations in the southeast. The presence of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of ISIS, has further complicated the security landscape.

The targeting of Christians, as highlighted by Trump, is a sensitive issue in Nigeria, a country roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. Religious and ethnic tensions often intersect with socio-economic grievances, exacerbating conflicts.

The Nigerian government has been working to combat insecurity through military operations, dialogue, and socio-economic programs. International cooperation, including intelligence sharing and military assistance, is considered crucial in addressing the complex security threats facing the nation. The extent and specifics of the intelligence provided by Nigeria to the U.S., and the operational parameters of the U.S. strikes, remain subjects of ongoing scrutiny. Further details are expected to emerge as both governments address inquiries regarding the operation.