US Bombs ISIS Targets in Nigeria

AFRICOM's initial assessment is that multiple terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps.

"US Africa Command is working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to on-going violence and threats against innocent lives," said Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, USAFRICOM. "Our goal is to protect Americans and to disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they are."

US Africa Command will continue to assess the results of the operation and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the operation will not be released in order to ensure operational security."

Map: Sokoto State

According to ACLED (https://acleddata.com), "armed groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in north-eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people, however most of these have been Muslims." The MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) targets petroleum facilities and pipelines that benefit the oil companies and Nigerian elites but have despoiled the environment for poor people living in the Niger Delta.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said the AFRICOM attack was a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists," and it "has nothing to do with a particular religion."

In central Nigeria, there are also frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, who are often Christian, over access to water and pasture.

Deadly cycles of tit-for-tat attacks have also seen thousands killed, but atrocities have been committed on both sides.
Human rights groups say there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted.