Nigeria averts unilateral sanctions

By publicly cooperating with the United States on a Christmas Day airstrike, Nigeria's government may have averted humiliating unilateral military action threatened a month ago by US President Donald Trump.



But security experts say it is unclear whether such strikes can do much to hinder Islamist militants who have long menaced communities in the area.



Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday that U.S. forces had launched a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government.



Trump said the group had been targeting Christians in the region.



Local media reported loud explosions in the village of Jabo on the evening of Christmas Day.



A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the strike was carried out by about a dozen Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. Navy warship.



Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said on Friday that Nigeria had acted jointly with the U.S., but that no specific religion had been targeted.