Joe Igbokwe Applauds Trump’s Christmas Airstrikes as a Turning Point in the War on Terror

Joe Igbokwe, a prominent Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has hailed the recent United States military intervention in Sokoto State as a long-awaited retribution for the bandits and insurgents who have terrorized Northern Nigeria. In a spirited reaction shared on Friday, December 26, 2025, Igbokwe described the Christmas Day airstrikes as a decisive “wotowoto”—a popular Nigerian slang for a severe beating or overwhelming force—meted out to the “bloodthirsty assailants” who have long eluded domestic capture.

The operation, which was carried out by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) under the direct orders of President Donald Trump, targeted Islamic State-linked camps in the northwest. According to U.S. officials, the strikes were a response to the “existential threat” facing Christian communities and other innocent civilians in the region. Igbokwe, who serves as an aide to the Lagos State Governor and has been a vocal critic of the insurgency, argued that the dynamics of the conflict have fundamentally changed with the introduction of American precision firepower.

For Igbokwe, the intervention is a justified response to years of “reckless abandon” with which bandits have carried out mass abductions and killings. In his Facebook address to his followers, he noted that the era of hiding in the vast, ungoverned spaces of the North is coming to an end. He referred to the insurgents as “hediots”—a colloquial term for fools—and suggested that the sophisticated surveillance and strike capabilities of the U.S. military have effectively removed the “hidden places” where these groups once felt secure.

The APC Chieftain’s celebratory tone reflects a segment of the Nigerian public that has grown weary of the protracted security crisis. While some critics have raised concerns about national sovereignty and the legal implications of a foreign power conducting strikes on Nigerian soil, Igbokwe’s stance prioritizes the immediate elimination of the threat. He framed the strikes not as a violation of sovereignty, but as a necessary surgical intervention to stop the “slaughtering” of Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.

The timing of the strikes on Christmas night has added a layer of symbolic weight to the event. President Trump, in his own statement on Truth Social, framed the mission as a gift of “hell to pay” for those who have targeted Christian communities. Igbokwe echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the “blood suckers” finally met their match on a day meant for peace. His remarks suggest a belief that the psychological impact of the strikes will be just as significant as the physical destruction of the insurgent camps.

Since the news broke, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that the strikes were part of a “structured security cooperation” and were conducted with the knowledge and coordination of the federal government. This official backing has provided political cover for supporters like Igbokwe to openly celebrate the military success. He urged Nigerians to see the intervention as a relief rather than an intrusion, highlighting the desperate need for a permanent solution to the displacement and economic ruin caused by the bandits.

Igbokwe’s commentary also touches on the broader political implications of the Trump administration’s “guns-a-blazing” approach to Nigerian security. By praising the U.S. President’s resolve, the APC Chieftain is signaling a departure from the more cautious diplomatic engagements of the past. He believes that the sheer force of the “wotowoto” will serve as a powerful deterrent to other criminal networks currently operating in the Middle Belt and the North East.

As the country processes the impact of this unprecedented Christmas operation, Igbokwe remains one of the most vocal proponents of the “whatever it takes” school of thought. He concluded his thoughts by reaffirming his support for the Tinubu administration’s willingness to partner with international allies to secure the lives of citizens. For Igbokwe, the message to the insurgents is clear: the world is watching, and the sky is no longer a safe haven.