Evangelical Christians, including the Southern Baptist Convention, and other U.S. faith groups have sought intervention following persecution claims.

President Donald Trump ordered Christmas airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, targeting ISIS terrorists near the Niger border after attacks on Christians.

Two late December incidents in Nigeria involved separate forms of violence. A suicide bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri killed several civilians, while U.S. forces carried out coordinated airstrikes against ISIS linked camps in Sokoto State.

The heavily armed jihadists, who dress in camouflage and wear vibrant turbans, have lived in camps in Tangaza, a remote area of Sokoto state near the border with Niger, for several years. They belong to a group called Lakurawa and hail from areas north of Nigeria in the Sahel.

The attack comes after President Trump ordered the Defense Department last month to prepare to intervene militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians from Islamic militants.

President Trump made the announcement late Thursday on social media, saying the strike was in response to the Islamic State targeting Christians in Nigeria.

President Trump said "numerous perfect strikes" had hit Islamic State militants in the West African nation of Nigeria.

Nigeria finished Group C with a perfect record after beating 10-man Uganda 3-1 in Fes. Paul Onuachu opened the scoring in the first half, finishing from close range to give his side a deserved lead. Nigeria's task was made easier in the second half when Ugandan substitute goalkeeper Jamal Salim handled the ball outside his 18-yard box.

Professor Jason Johnson appeared on MS NOW on Saturday, where he suggested that the Trump administration's strike on terror targets in Nigeria was racially motivated.