Two distinguished Church leaders in Nigeria have offered contrasting interpretations of the impact of the U.S. strikes targeting ISIS in Nigeria on Christmas Day 2025. Differing perspectivesOne month after those strikes were carried out, two leading Catholics in Nigeria spoke positively of the strikes, but offered different views of their impact. Father Patrick Alumuku, Director of Catholic Television of Nigeria, told CWR that U.S. strikes were “a providential and decisive turning point,” directly crediting them with improved security for Nigeria’s Christians. Both leaders agree that a simple change in the presidential ticket will not be enough to guarantee the safety of Christians. “It is the government that is fanning the embers of Christian persecution in Nigeria,” Umeagbalasi told CWR.

Source: CNN January 27, 2026 03:52 UTC