Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the brutal killing of 11 Christians and the destruction of a church in Mondag, a village in Adamawa State, in what analysts say is direct retaliation for U.S. missile strikes launched on December 25, 2025.
According to reports from multiple Nigerian security outlets, the attack occurred just two days after U.S. forces, in coordination with Nigerian military units, conducted precision strikes against ISWAP camps in Sokoto, inflicting significant losses on the jihadist group. The militants reportedly stormed Mondag shortly thereafter, opening fire with automatic weapons and setting the village church ablaze, along with several residential homes. Survivors fled into surrounding bushland to escape the onslaught.
The group’s propaganda channels have publicly claimed the attack as a demonstration of defiance against the United States, framing it as vengeance for the December missile strikes. The killing of civilians, particularly Christians, is seen by security analysts as part of ISWAP’s ongoing strategy of intimidation and terror, using religious identity to target vulnerable populations.
Local sources describe the scene as chaotic and devastating. Villagers reported hearing sustained gunfire and seeing flames engulf the church before fleeing for their lives. Relief and security agencies are currently working to provide aid and support to survivors, though access to the affected area has been hampered by security concerns and the presence of insurgent elements in surrounding regions.
The massacre in Mondag highlights the continued vulnerability of Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria, where extremist violence has been escalating for over a decade. Analysts warn that such attacks are increasingly retaliatory in nature, directly linked to international military operations against jihadist positions, which often provoke reprisals against civilian populations.
Nigerian authorities have condemned the attack and vowed to strengthen military and intelligence operations in Adamawa and other insurgency-affected areas. Security experts emphasize that the ISWAP strategy often involves targeting civilians to undermine government authority, spread fear, and dissuade cooperation with military forces or foreign partners.
Religious and human rights groups have expressed outrage over the killings, describing the incident as part of a broader pattern of targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria. Over the past decade, thousands of civilians have been killed in attacks by Islamist extremists in the North-East, raising fears of what some observers describe as a slow-moving campaign of religiously motivated violence.
The Adamawa attack serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by ISWAP, whose operations remain adaptive and capable of retaliatory strikes in response to military pressure. Analysts stress that the group’s willingness to target civilians in response to external military interventions complicates both domestic and international efforts to neutralize extremist networks.
Authorities have urged civilians in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces, while humanitarian organizations are calling for emergency aid to displaced populations. In Mondag and surrounding villages, the focus is on providing shelter, food, and medical assistance to survivors while assessing the full extent of property destruction and human loss.
The U.S. missile strikes on December 25, aimed at degrading ISWAP infrastructure, appear to have prompted a deadly response, underscoring the ongoing cycle of violence in the region. Security analysts argue that without sustained military pressure, community protection measures, and strategic counterterrorism operations, extremist groups will continue to exploit civilian vulnerabilities to assert influence and instill fear.
For the residents of Mondag, the attack is a devastating reminder of the human cost of insurgency and retaliation, with religious identity placing certain populations at heightened risk. As investigations continue and survivors are assisted, authorities face mounting pressure to prevent further bloodshed and secure vulnerable communities against repeat attacks.
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