Fresh details have emerged on how Donald Trump reportedly directed the American military to intensify operations against ISIS terrorists accused of killing Christians in Nigeria, in what analysts describe as a major escalation of US involvement in the country’s security crisis.
The revelation was made by Pete Hegseth during a White House press briefing on Wednesday, where he disclosed that American forces had already mobilised military assets and commenced operations in Nigeria targeting extremist groups linked to ISIS.
According to Hegseth, Trump became alarmed after receiving reports about repeated attacks on Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria and ordered the US War Department to take decisive action against those responsible.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth stated during the briefing.
The US official explained that American military operations in collaboration with the Nigerian Army had already produced major results, including the killing of a top ISIS commander identified as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki.
Hegseth described Al-Minuki as ISIS “number two” in Nigeria and accused him of masterminding deadly attacks against Christians while also posing a threat to American national security interests.
And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he said.
Security sources revealed that the notorious terrorist commander was eliminated during coordinated airstrikes carried out earlier this month in Nigeria’s North-East region, an area heavily affected by insurgency and extremist violence for more than a decade.
Al-Minuki, a 44-year-old Nigerian born in Mainok, Benisheikh area of Borno State, had long been on the radar of international security agencies due to his alleged role in orchestrating brutal attacks linked to ISIS operations in West Africa.
The United States government officially designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June 2023 following intelligence reports connecting him to multiple deadly attacks and extremist activities across the region.
The latest operation marks another phase in growing military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorism, banditry, and insurgency threatening communities across the country.
Reports indicate that the recent strike came just months after American forces reportedly conducted similar military operations in Sokoto State in December, targeting terrorist hideouts and neutralising several militants.
The renewed US military involvement is expected to spark debate both within Nigeria and internationally, especially regarding foreign military operations on Nigerian soil and Washington’s increasing role in Africa’s security landscape.
For years, Nigeria’s North-East region has remained one of the worst-hit areas by insurgency, with thousands killed and millions displaced due to attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated factions.
Religious groups and international human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on Christian communities, kidnappings, destruction of villages, and mass killings carried out by terrorist groups operating across parts of northern Nigeria.
The situation has also drawn political attention in the United States, where conservative groups and religious organisations have consistently pressured Washington to take stronger action against what they describe as targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria.
Trump’s administration had earlier designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing issues related to religious persecution and worsening insecurity.
Meanwhile, the latest comments from Hegseth suggest that the US government may be preparing for even broader counterterrorism operations in collaboration with Nigerian security forces if extremist violence continues to escalate.
Although Nigerian authorities are yet to officially provide full details of the operations referenced by the US official, the development signals deeper military intelligence sharing and strategic cooperation between both countries.
The announcement also comes at a time when Nigeria is battling rising cases of terrorism, kidnapping, and attacks on schools and rural communities, especially in the northern part of the country.
Security experts believe the direct involvement of the United States could strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity through intelligence support, advanced surveillance systems, airpower assistance, and special operations training.
However, some analysts warn that foreign military interventions must be carefully managed to avoid sovereignty concerns and possible geopolitical tensions within the region.
