Legality of the Use of Force by United States Against Nigeria

On Christmas 25 December 2025, the President of the United States of America President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social media platform that in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army ordered a deadly strike on ‘ÍSIS Islamic Terrorists SCUM’ in Sokoto State, Northern Nigeria who he alleged, had been killing innocent Christians decimating every camp. Nigeria Information Minister Mohhamed Idris announced the attack the following day. He announced that the attack targeted two major ISIS enclaves in Bauni forest of Tangaza in Sokoto State. He disclosed that the Nigeria military provided intelligence for the operations which he said, was successful. The military operation brought criticism by persons who pointed out that it violated the sovereignty of Nigeria and the Charter of the United Nations Organization. For several years Nigeria has suffered attacks from non-state armed groups, targeting Christians, Muslims and victims of all ethnicities, devastating the educational, cultural and the existential economy of victims. The United States of America and Nigeria are members of the United Nations Organization (U.N.O) which was founded in 1945 at the end of the Second World War. By their membership of the U.N.O Nigeria and the U.S.A adhered to the universal pledge to maintain international peace and security, collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to the breach of the peace (Article 1(1); in furtherance of these principles, affirm the sovereign equality of nations (Article 2(1); peaceful settlement of disputes in a manner in which international peace and security will not be jeopardised and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations (Article 2(4). The U.S.A is a permanent member of the Security Council of the U.N.O ( Article 13 (1), charged with the responsibility of primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agrees that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf. Article 24 (1). The Security Council has the responsibility under Chapters VI and VII to take action on behalf of the U.N.O against threats to peace, breaches to peace and acts of aggression which may require the use of threats or force to maintain or restore international peace and security ( Article 42). As a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S.A has a responsibility to ensure compliance of the U.N. peace and security framework and the international legal order arising from the bilateral and multilateral treaty obligations including treaties binding Nigeria and the U.S.A This paper examines the legality of the threat and use of force against alleged ISIS terrorists SCUM in Sokoto State in Nigeria on Christmas Day December 25, 2025 by U.S.A President Donald Trump in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the U.S.A. Military to protect and prevent the genocide of Christians.