By Gloria Ogbonna
The Washington Post’s editorial board has publicly praised President Donald Trump’s recent military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists operating in Nigeria, describing the action as both justified and long overdue in a region plagued by persistent extremist violence.
In a Saturday opinion piece, the newspaper characterized Trump’s decision to authorize the deadly strikes as “righteous,” while emphasizing that the United States has the capacity to do far more to address terrorist threats in Africa if it chooses to remain engaged.
The board noted that U.S. involvement in Nigeria and the wider region has historically received limited attention at the highest levels of American leadership.
“It’s a welcome change in a part of the world that has always been little more than an afterthought for the president,” the editorial stated. However, the board also raised questions about the long-term direction of U.S. policy, asking whether the operation represents a single, isolated decision or the beginning of a more consistent and coherent strategy to combat terrorism in West Africa.
The editorial further criticized Nigeria’s central government, arguing that it has struggled to effectively restore security in large swaths of the country. Despite this, the board acknowledged recent cooperation between Abuja and Washington, calling it a positive development.
“It’s good that Abuja is willing to work closely with Washington to stop the slaughter,” the piece said, adding that President Trump would be wise to remain actively involved rather than disengaging after one successful operation.
Concerns over security in Nigeria had been mounting in the days leading up to the strikes. On Christmas Eve, Breitbart News reported that many Nigerians were extremely reluctant to travel outside the capital city of Abuja to visit family and celebrate Christmas, citing fears of jihadist ambushes and attacks along major roadways.
Those fears appeared well-founded. On Christmas Day, President Trump announced that he had directed the U.S. military to carry out what he described as a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria.
In a post shared on social media, Trump said the operation targeted extremists who had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” at levels he claimed had not been seen for many years, “and even centuries.”
Breitbart News reported that the strike came after weeks of escalating accounts of religiously motivated violence against Christian communities across Nigeria. Human rights advocates and security experts have repeatedly described these attacks as genocidal in nature.
Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani jihadist militias have conducted coordinated assaults throughout the Middle Belt and northern regions of the country for more than a decade, with the apparent goal of systematically eradicating Christian populations.
According to multiple reports, violence by these groups has historically intensified around major Christian holidays, including Christmas and Easter, heightening fear among civilians during what should be periods of celebration and worship. Many Nigerians, Breitbart noted, remain convinced that the jihadists’ ultimate objective is the complete elimination of Christianity from affected regions.
The outlet also reported that violence linked to extremist activity was not limited to Nigeria. In the same week, deadly mosque bombings were carried out in both Syria and Nigeria, killing and injuring dozens of people. These attacks were reportedly timed to coincide with prayer services, a tactic intended to maximize casualties and spread terror.
Against this backdrop, The Washington Post’s endorsement of the strikes underscores a rare moment of bipartisan and cross-ideological agreement on the need for decisive action against terrorism in Africa. Whether the operation marks a turning point in U.S. engagement or remains a singular response now remains the central question.
Source Breitbrat
Original article
Comments