Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has disclosed that Nigerian authorities provided the intelligence that led to the recent United States strike on terrorist targets in Nigeria.

According to the minister, he held a 19-minute discussion with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, prior to the operation. During the conversation, both sides agreed to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek his authorisation before any action was taken.

Tuggar said President Tinubu subsequently gave his approval for the strike. He added that following the presidential clearance, he spoke again with the US Secretary of State five minutes before the operation was launched against the terrorists.

The minister’s remarks underscore the level of security cooperation and intelligence collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in the ongoing fight against terrorism and violent extremism.