Trump says US struck IS targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians

US President Donald Trump (Alex Brandon/AP)

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US launched a “powerful and deadly” strike against so-called Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.

In a Christmas evening post on his social media site, Mr Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes in Sokoto state.