ISWAP has reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported warning of a possible military strike in Nigeria.
The group condemned Trump’s remarks and urged its fighters to tighten security and remain vigilant.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has issued a reaction to reported comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting a potential American military strike against the group in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians.
In a statement shared through its usual propaganda channels, the extremist faction described Trump as a “reckless American tyrant,” alleging that his stance was shaped by “evangelical Christian and Jewish advisers” during his administration.
According to counter-insurgency analyst Zagozola Makama, ISWAP accused the United States of trying to portray itself as a global protector of Christians, warning that such rhetoric could lead Washington into renewed conflicts across Africa. The group cited the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique both battling violent insurgencies as potential flashpoints for expanded U.S. involvement.
ISWAP claimed that any intervention in Nigeria would serve the broader goal of the Islamic State movement to overextend U.S. military capabilities across multiple regions. It referenced Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Lake Chad Basin as examples of zones where American forces might become stretched thin if drawn into more operations.
The group also issued internal security directives to its members, advising them to stay away from public gatherings, restrict movement, and reduce smartphone use due to fears of increased U.S. intelligence monitoring and drone surveillance. Similar precautions, it said, have been communicated to other Islamic State affiliates worldwide.
In its closing message, ISWAP called on Muslims in West Africa to remain united and vigilant, framing Trump’s statement as part of what it described as a Western campaign against African Muslims. The group vowed to resist any external interference in what it considers its operational territories.
