U.S. Strikes on ISIS in Nigeria “potentially helpful way to bring some hope”, Catholic Bishop Says as Priest Concurs

According to him, this framing is critical in Nigeria’s highly polarized political environment. “That fact will limit the endemic politicisation of practically every move made by the authorities to curtail the menace in the past,” he said.

While acknowledging tensions and controversies surrounding international narratives on religious persecution, Bishop Badejo noted that the Nigerian government has nevertheless been seeking assistance to stem the violence.

“While the Nigerian government has rightly pushed back on the declaration of President Donald Trump that there is a genocide against Christians in Nigeria, it has openly sought for help to contain the insecurity widespread especially in the Northern part of the country,” he said.

Credit: hyotographics/Shutterstock

Announcing the December 25 action, President Trump has been quoted as saying, “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.”

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that “precision hits on terrorist targets” in the country’s northwestern Sokoto State were carried out in cooperation with the U.S.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of War, Hon. Pete Hegseth is said to have been “grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation” in the counterterrorism effort.   

In the December 26 interview, Bishop Badejo said the strikes may serve as a warning to terrorist groups that the Nigerian government’s approach is shifting. “It is hoped that this strike will at least warn terrorists that there is a change in tempo in the government’s effort to deal with them,” Bishop Badejo told ACI Africa.

Although stressing that it is too early to draw firm conclusions, the member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication since his appointment in December 2021 underscored the widespread approval the action has received across religious communities.

“Still early days but most Nigerians, Christians and Muslims have welcomed the joint action as a potentially helpful way to bring some hope of a resolution to the terrorism, insurgency and banditry that have defied a solution in Nigeria for over 15 years now,” Bishop Badejo told ACI Africa.

Fr. Patrick Alumuku, speaking separately to ACI Africa on December 26, was even more emphatic in his assessment, describing the previous day’s strikes as a historic and reassuring moment for Nigerians.

Fr. Patrick Alumuku, Director of Social Communications of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese

“I was at breakfast this morning when I got this news and I thought it is the best news that Nigeria has received in 20 years,” Fr. Alumuku said.

He explained that the development sends a powerful message to victims of violence across the West African nation that is Africa’s most populous country.

“It is the best news because, first and foremost, it is an assurance that what is happening to us in Nigeria is not unknown to the world and that the world cares for what is happening here,” Fr. Alumuku said.

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For him, the collaboration between Nigerian security agencies and the U.S. administration reflects a new willingness to confront the roots of insecurity.

“By Nigerian security agencies working in collaboration with (President) Trump administration, they are desirous of having a change in this country to bring an end to the so-called banditry and terrorism which we all know as jihadism in Nigeria,” he said, and added, “We know it’s jihadism; they call it all kinds of names.”

According to the Abuja archdiocese communications director, the joint action also carries an important deterrent message. “The collaboration sends a signal to the jihadists that they cannot destroy Christianity in Nigeria the way they were allowed to do in the last 10 years,” he said.

The Abuja-based Catholic Priest, who was ordained for Nigeria’s Makurdi Diocese in 1981 also highlighted the advocacy role played by Church leaders in drawing international attention to the crisis.

“I’m also very appreciative of the efforts of the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese (Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe) who had the courage to go to the U.S. several times… to ensure that the truth is told,” he said, adding that U.S. officials had visited internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps to witness conditions firsthand.

Beyond security analysis, Fr. Alumuku reflected on the pastoral significance of the timing of the strikes. “This Christmas is a wonderful Christmas Day also because we have had no attacks on churches in this country which is the first time in nearly 15 years,” he told ACI Africa, adding, “So, it’s quite a joyful day for me.”

While acknowledging that the U.S. involvement will be politicized, the Director of Communications for Abuja Archdiocese who doubles as the Director of the Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV), which he founded in 2010 rejected claims that the U.S. military strikes in Nigeria undermine the country’s sovereignty or unfairly favor Christians.

Fr. Alumuku stressed that the violence has affected the entire nation and that the intervention is about protection, not privilege.

Together, the voices of Bishop Badejo and Fr. Alumuku reflect a shared hope among many Nigerians that the joint U.S.-Nigeria military action may mark a turning point in confronting extremist violence and offers, as Bishop Badejo put it, “some hope”, after years of suffering and insecurity.