ABUJA, Dec. 26, 2025 (Naija247news) -- The recent U.S. strike against Islamic State (IS) militants in Nigeria -- carried out at the request of the Nigerian government -- has reignited global attention on the terror organisation, raising fears of a resurgence years after it was territorially defeated in Iraq and Syria by a U.S.-led coalition.
U.S. President Donald Trump, reacting on Truth Social, claimed that IS fighters had increasingly targeted "primarily Christians in Nigeria at levels not seen for many years," a comment that has intensified debate on the evolving threat landscape across West Africa.
The operation also comes amid heightened concern within intelligence circles that remnants of the extremist network may be regrouping and expanding influence across Africa, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin -- regions already battling Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Al-Qaeda-linked factions.
What is Islamic State?
The Islamic State -- a Sunni extremist movement born from the chaos of post-invasion Iraq and civil war in Syria -- once declared a self-styled "caliphate" between 2014 and 2017, imposing strict Sharia governance, public executions, torture, and media-driven brutality to control millions.
At its peak, IS held strategic cities like Mosul (Iraq) and Raqqa (Syria), as well as Sirte in Libya, projecting power within driving distance of Baghdad. The group also inspired or directed attacks in cities globally -- from the Middle East to Europe, Africa and Asia -- before collapsing under coordinated international military pressure.
Where does Islamic State operate today?
Despite territorial defeat, IS did not disappear. Its fighters dispersed into underground cells across rural Syria and Iraq. The United Nations estimates nearly 10,000 militants remain active in the group's former heartlands.
The organisation now survives through franchises across multiple regions, including:
Goals, tactics and operational model
While IS retains its ideological ambition of spreading a puritanical interpretation of Islam across Muslim societies, its operational structure has shifted. The movement now functions as a decentralised network of affiliates, leaning on propaganda via Telegram, online radicalisation, and opportunistic violence rather than territorial control.
No significant evidence suggests coordinated weapons distribution or central financing between regional cells -- instead, local branches operate with ideological alignment but operational independence.
High-impact attacks remain a key propaganda tool, helping the group signal relevance even without a physical caliphate.
Recent attacks linked to Islamic State
The group's global footprint was highlighted again this year, with incidents across multiple regions:
The group has increasingly used anti-government propaganda, recently labelling Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa "Trump's boy" as it accused Damascus of facilitating U.S. interests in the region.
Why the Nigeria strike matters
The Nigeria operation signals Washington's renewed kinetic involvement in West Africa, a region where insurgency has evolved into a complex blend of terrorism, banditry, and criminal economies.
Though Nigerian officials have not released full operational details, analysts fear that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) -- already one of the most resilient IS cells worldwide -- could attempt to leverage global propaganda from the strike to boost recruitment amid deteriorating security in the North-East.
The development also raises fresh questions on intelligence sharing, the role of foreign military partners, and future counter-terror frameworks between Abuja and Washington.
More clarity is expected as both governments outline next steps.
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Reporting by David Okoroafor, News Writer in Lagos, Nigeria.