Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has revealed that Nigerian intelligence was instrumental in the recent United States airstrike conducted in Nigeria, describing it as a coordinated effort within a broader joint counterterrorism framework between the two nations.
The airstrikes, ordered under the command of United States President Donald Trump, targeted known terrorist positions in Northern Nigeria, aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and preventing further attacks on civilians.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs speaks
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Minister Tuggar explained that Nigeria provided critical intelligence that guided the US military operation. He highlighted that the Nigerian government worked closely with US authorities throughout the planning and execution of the strike to ensure accuracy and minimize collateral damage.
Tuggar noted that he personally held extensive consultations with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, prior to the operation. These discussions included multiple phone calls to confirm strategic details and align on operational procedures before the strike was launched.
He further disclosed that the consultation process extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was fully briefed on the planned airstrike and gave his approval after evaluating the intelligence and operational plan presented by both Nigerian and US officials.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria and the United States agreed on the manner in which the operation would be communicated to the public. He stressed that the airstrike was strictly a counterterrorism measure, carried out under an existing security collaboration framework, with the primary goal of safeguarding Nigerian lives and targeting terrorist strongholds rather than any religious group or community.
He emphasizes strikes targeted at terrorists
Minister Tuggar clarified that the airstrike had no religious implications, underscoring that its sole purpose was to combat terrorism, prevent the loss of innocent lives, and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture in the region. He described the operation as a milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to work with international partners to address terrorism effectively.
He stated in part: “It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence. We have been working closely with the Americans. This is what we’ve always been hoping for – to work with the Americans and other countries to combat terrorism and stop the death of innocent Nigerians. This is a vindication of the Tinubu administration for those who thought there was some foot dragging, or that the government wasn’t doing enough.”
He continued, “I was on the phone for 19 minutes with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We spoke extensively and agreed that I would speak with President Tinubu to give the go-ahead. We also agreed that the statement that would follow would clearly show that this was a strike against terrorism, part of an ongoing joint operation between Nigeria and the United States. This has nothing to do with religion. It is about protecting Nigerians.”
The minister’s remarks highlight the importance of intelligence sharing and collaboration in international counterterrorism efforts, reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to using strategic partnerships to enhance national security and regional stability.
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Nigeria 🇳🇬 provided intelligence for the USA 🇺🇸 strike in Nigeria. We spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio twice: once 19 minutes before the strike and another time 5 minutes before it went on.
~Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar says
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) December 26, 2025