US President Donald Trump has stirred global controversy after bluntly wishing terrorists killed in a military operation in Northwest Nigeria a “Merry Christmas”.
Trump stated this on Thursday while announcing that he personally authorised the airstrike, which reportedly wiped out scores of terrorists operating in the Sokoto axis.
Declaring the raid a major success, the US president said the operation targeted ISIS elements accused of carrying out brutal attacks, especially against innocent Christians.
Revealing details of the strike, Trump said, “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.”
The statement has since generated reactions across the world, with supporters applauding Trump’s uncompromising tone against terrorism, while critics slammed the message as inflammatory and provocative.
The airstrike is believed to have delivered a significant blow to terrorist networks in Northwest Nigeria, though official casualty figures have yet to be released.
