US Airstrikes in Nigeria and Expert Reactions
Jason Johnson, a Morgan State University professor, expressed his views on Saturday regarding the recent U.S. military strikes against terror targets in Nigeria. He views this as a potential chance for the Trump administration to “exercise power in brown states,” as he put it.
In a segment on MS NOW’s The Weekend, Johnson spoke with host Eugene Daniels, criticizing the administration’s rationale behind the strikes and questioning Trump’s sudden interest in African countries he had previously disparaged.
“If the president, who once labeled these nations as the ‘worst countries’ just five years ago, now acts like he cares—well, I mean, if he were playing chess with someone like Nicki Minaj and pondering where things fit, maybe it would make sense,” Johnson stated. “But honestly, it doesn’t. This looks like another excuse for the current regime to exert violence in those countries to show off their authority.”
Johnson’s comments seem to allude to rapper Nicki Minaj’s recent remarks at Turning Point USA’s America Fest 2025 about the plight of Christians in Nigeria.
He also cast doubt on the numbers circulated by Republicans regarding Christian deaths there. “The BBC has done some digging to see if those numbers were accurate—like, was it 100,000 or 6,000? There seems to be a mishmash of conflicting figures,” he said.
Johnson pointed out that radicals in Nigeria attack people regardless of their faith, implying that the narrative of targeting Christians may be overstated.
On a slightly more positive note, he mentioned that the airstrikes were conducted in partnership with the Nigerian government, a detail he believes is often overlooked in discussions about the strikes.
Meanwhile, President Trump took to Truth Social, announcing that the military had launched these airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants on Christmas night. He claimed these militants have been responsible for brutal violence against Christians, stating that they’re committing acts “not seen in years, or even centuries.” U.S. Africa Command later confirmed the airstrikes via a post.
This military action follows a troubling rise in violence against Christians and Christian institutions in Nigeria. Just last month, armed attackers targeted the Christ Apostolic Church, leading to casualties and kidnappings. Similarly, St. Mary’s School faced an assault where more than 300 individuals were taken hostage, with some students managing to escape.
As the situation unfolds, Johnson’s mixed response—highlighting both skepticism about the motives behind the strikes and a silver lining in collaboration—illustrates the complex narratives surrounding U.S. military actions abroad.
