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U.S. military strikes in Sokoto Christmas gift to Nigerian terrorists: Trump

“They really got hit hard yesterday. They got a very bad Christmas present,” Mr Trump said.

• December 27, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump [Credit; CNN]

American President Donald Trump has described the U.S. military airstrikes in Sokoto State as a surprise Christmas gift to terrorists.

“I said yesterday, ‘Hit them on Christmas Day.’ It will be a Christmas present,” Mr Trump told WABC radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview on Friday.

The American president said the U.S. army hit terrorists hard in different locations during the Christmas Day strikes.

“We hit ISIS, who are terrible. They are butchers. We really hit them hard in different locations. They really got hit hard yesterday. They got a very bad Christmas present,” Mr Trump said.

In a seperate interview with Politico, Mr Trump said he held the attack on terrorists till Christmas day for it to have a “symbolic” meaning.

“They (terrorists) didn’t think that was coming. Every camp got decimated,” Mr Trump said.

The American President announced that U.S military carried out series of strikes against terrorist on Christmas Day in Sokoto State, a month after he redesignated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged killing of Christians by terror group.

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