US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria

The US has launched strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in north-western Nigeria, where militants have sought to establish a foothold.

Camps run by the group in Sokoto state were hit near the border with Niger, the US military said. Casualty numbers are unclear, but both US and Nigerian officials say militants were killed.

US President Donald Trump said theChristmas Day strikes had been “deadly” and labelled the group “terrorist scum”, saying they had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a “joint operation” and had “nothing to do with a particular religion”.

Tuggar said the strikes had been planned “for quite some time” using intelligence provided by Nigeria. He also did not rule out further strikes.

Referencing the timing of strikes – which took place late on Thursday – he said they did not have “anything to do with Christmas”.

The Nigerian government has long been fighting an array of jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and IS-linked factions, but largely in the north-east. But in recent years a smaller group – known locally as Lakurawa – has sought to establish a base in north-western Sokoto state.

On Friday morning, the Nigerian foreign ministry said authorities were engaged in “security co-operation with international partners”, including the US. “This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the north-west,” it said.

The US military said an “initial assessment” suggested “multiple” fatalities in Sokoto state.

The chairman of the Tangaza local government area, Isa Salihu Bashir, told the BBC the strikes had “hit some Lakurawa terrorist camps”. He said many fighters had been killed but could not confirm the death toll.

A separate strike on Thursday hit a field in the town of Jabo, further south in Sokoto, but there were no reports of casualties. “Something that looked like a plane flashed and crashed… in fields,” eyewitness Umar Jabo told the BBC.

He said there was no issue with IS in the area: “Here in Jabo, we live peacefully, and there is no conflict between us and Christians.”

The Trump administration has previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks and has claimed a “genocide” is being perpetrated.

Trump has labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern”, a designation used by the US state department that provides for sanctions against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom”.

COURTESY: BBC