Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says Nigeria provided the intelligence that led to the United States’ airstrike on terrorist targets in the country and formally approved the operation before its execution.
Tuggar disclosed this while appearing as a guest on Channels Television, a day after the US confirmed it had conducted a strike as part of counter-terrorism operations.
The Minister said the operation was the outcome of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, stressing however that it was not motivated by religious considerations.
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.
“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 foreign affairs Minister said Nigeria had long sought deeper collaboration with the United States and other countries to combat terrorism, describing the strike as a vindication of the Tinubu administration’s security strategy.
Tuggar 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.”
The Minister stressed that the operation had nothing to do with religion, noting that its sole purpose was to protect innocent lives, whether Nigerian or foreign.
He added, “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.”
US President, Donald Trump, on Thursday confirmed the US carried out an airstrike targeting suspected terrorist elements in Nigeria.
US officials said the operation was conducted based on shared intelligence and in coordination with Nigeria’s government, amid ongoing efforts to weaken extremist groups operating in parts of the country.
Trump had warned some months before the strike that Washington could take action against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, citing repeated attacks and what he described as violence targeting Christian communities.
Trump’s comments at the time drew mixed reactions in Nigeria, with officials insisting that insecurity in the country was not religiously motivated and that both Muslims and Christians had been victims of terrorism and banditry.
Nigeria has for years faced multiple security threats, including insurgency by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East, as well as banditry and terror attacks across the North-West, leading to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
Although the US has long supported Nigeria through intelligence sharing and military assistance, direct US strikes on Nigerian territory are uncommon and often draw public attention.
