Featured Image Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Topics: Terrorism, Donald Trump, World News, Politics, Religion, US News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Terrorism, Donald Trump, World News, Politics, Religion, US News
While many rested on Christmas Day, the Department of War remained hard at work.
On December 25, Donald Trump's 'Department of War' made moves in Nigeria in a bid to get rid of militants linked to the Islamic State group in the country.
Violence against Christians in Nigeria has gained worldwide attention of late, particularly in America. 45 percent of Nigerians are Christian, while 53 percent are Muslim, says The Guardian.
Back in October, Senator Ted Cruz claimed that since 2009 'over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred, and over 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools have been destroyed'.
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He continued to write on Twitter: "It is the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times — and it says a great deal about who is lashing out now that a light is being shone on these issues."
"The United States knows who those people are, and I intend to hold them accountable," Cruz added.
And America has now done this after issuing a 'deadly' strike against 'ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria'.
The Department of War shared a statement from President Trump on Christmas Day that read: "Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
"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. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
"Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."
While the strike was called 'deadly', it is unclear how many people, if any, died in the attack.
Brigadier General Samaila Mohammed Uba has confirmed that the US worked with the Nigerian authorities to conduct the attack.
"The strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage," Uba said, via Al Jazeera.
He added: "The operation underscores the resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with strategic partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from establishing or expanding footholds within Nigeria’s borders."
Meanwhile, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the BBC it was a 'joint operation' and had 'nothing to do with a particular religion'.