U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritize protecting Nigerian Christians targeted by ISIS-linked groups.
Speaking at a White House briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth stated that Trump issued the directive about a year ago after receiving reports of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
According to Hegseth, the operation involved coordinated military planning, intelligence gathering, and the deployment of assets to the region. He said the effort contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s second-in-command in Nigeria, during a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation in the Lake Chad Basin.
Hegseth added that intelligence from the mission helped eliminate hundreds of other ISIS fighters linked to attacks on Christians and threats against the U.S. homeland. Hegseth framed the mission as part of the Trump administration’s broader counterterrorism strategy and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities facing extremist violence.
U.S. Africa Command had earlier confirmed an operation against ISIS elements in northeastern Nigeria, noting it was carried out with Nigerian cooperation.
