Emmanuel Akinwotu

Trump said more strikes would follow.

Nigeria's government has come out in support of the operation.

Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuga said he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly before the strikes, but has faced criticism

and questions on whether Nigeria gave consent or was simply consulted.

Nigeria has faced pressure from US officials who claim Christians are facing a genocide from armed groups whose security experts say target both Christians and Muslims.

Emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News, Lagos.

The U.S.

Africa Command, who are in charge of military operations on the continent, they put it differently.

In a statement they said initially the strikes were requested by the Nigerian government and then they amended that statement to say it was done in coordination with them.

But in any case, this is clearly a really significant intervention and an inflection point in Nigeria.

US military involvement in Nigeria.

And it also comes with the religious symbolism of launching these strikes on Christmas Day.

Several worshippers were hit in the blast at a crowded mosque on Wednesday evening and taken to nearby hospitals.

The attack is the first in years in Medjugorje, the capital of Borno state, where the insurgency by Boko Haram began in 2009.

The city has been largely fortified by a heavy military presence, but in recent months, local officials have warned that in rural areas across the region, militants have a growing foothold.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which local officials have called a suicide bombing.

But militants have previously targeted mosques and crowded areas.

Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR News, Lagos.

Witnesses in the capital, Bissau, have reported heavy gunfire, including at the electoral body where provisional results were due to be announced on Thursday.

Both President Umaru Sisoko Mbalo and his closest rival, Fernando Diaz, had claimed victory after a tightly fought election held on Sunday, where the main opposition candidate was barred from running.