United States President Donald Trump has reportedly directed the U.S. military to intensify operations against ISIS-linked terrorists operating in Nigeria, following renewed concerns over attacks targeting civilians and Christian communities in parts of the country.
According to reports, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration authorised American military assets to support counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria, leading to a joint operation with Nigerian forces that eliminated senior ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
The operation reportedly took place in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin region, an area that has experienced years of insurgent activity linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other extremist groups. U.S. and Nigerian officials described the mission as a major counterterrorism success and a significant blow to ISIS operations across West Africa.
Trump, who had previously threatened stronger action over attacks on Christians in Nigeria, said the operation demonstrated America’s commitment to combating terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities. Reports indicated that U.S. military support for Nigeria expanded in recent months through intelligence cooperation, technical support and joint security coordination.
The development follows earlier reports that American forces carried out strikes against ISIS targets in northwestern Nigeria in late 2025 after rising international attention on insecurity and religious violence in the country.
However, debates continue internationally over how Nigeria’s violence should be interpreted. While some U.S. political figures and advocacy groups have framed the crisis as targeted anti-Christian persecution, several researchers and conflict-monitoring organisations argue that the conflict is more complex, involving insurgency, banditry, ethnic tensions and competition over resources affecting both Muslim and Christian communities.
Nigeria’s government has consistently rejected allegations of a state-backed religious persecution campaign, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens across different regions and religious backgrounds. Nonetheless, authorities have welcomed international security cooperation aimed at weakening terrorist groups operating within the country.
The latest U.S.-Nigeria military collaboration is expected to further strengthen security ties between both countries as counterterrorism operations continue across the Lake Chad region and other conflict-prone areas.
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