By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has said Nigeria provided the intelligence that led to the United States’ Christmas Day air strike on terrorist targets in the country and formally approved the operation before it was carried out.
Tuggar, while speaking on Channels Television on Friday, December 26, disclosed that he spoke ‘extensively’ with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, before the strike and got the president’s approval for the operation.
The minister added that the strike was part of ongoing counter-terrorism and security operations between Nigeria and the United States and was not motivated by religious considerations.
He said; “It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence. I was on the phone yesterday for 19 minutes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the United States. We spoke extensively, and we agreed that I was going to speak with President Tinubu for President Tinubu to give the go-ahead.
“And I did speak with him and it was agreed also that the statements that would follow would be statements that would show clearly that it is a strike against terrorism and that it is part of the ongoing joint operations between Nigeria and collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.”
Tuggar said Nigeria had remained committed to collaborating with the United States and other countries to combat terrorism, describing the strike as a vindication of the Tinubu administration’s security strategy.
The minister added: “Nigeria has remained consistent in its approach, which is to work with all partners that are committed to the fight against terrorism, irrespective of what religion, who the victims are, whether they are Muslims or Christians, and irrespective of what type of terrorism, be it terrorism being carried out in the name of one religion or the other, or indeed even bandage. So this is an ongoing process.
“We have been working closely with the Americans. This is what we’ve always been hoping for: to work with the Americans, work with other countries to combat terrorism, to stop the death of innocent Nigerians. So this is a vindication of the Tinubu administration.
“For those who thought that there was some foot-dragging or, you know, the government wasn’t doing enough, it is a clear indication that we are committed and we are prepared to work with all countries.”
The minister stressed that the operation had no religious sentiments, adding that its sole purpose was to protect innocent lives, whether Nigerian or foreign.
President Donald Trump, on Thursday, December 25, confirmed the US carried out an air strike targeting suspected terrorist elements in Nigeria.
US officials said the operation was conducted based on shared intelligence and in coordination with Nigeria’s government, amid ongoing efforts to weaken extremist groups operating in parts of the country.
