…US Secretary of War Confirms Hundreds of Terrorists Targeting Christians, US Interests Eliminated in Coordinated Joint Strikes
By Yinka Giwa
United States President Donald Trump has personally directed the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Christians facing deadly attacks from ISIS-linked terrorists in Nigeria. The collaboration triggered a covert military collaboration that eventually led to the killing of the terror group’s second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, as well as hundreds of fighters across the North-East.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Trump at the White House.
Hegseth revealed that Trump issued the directive after receiving reports about the persistent killings of Christians by ISIS-affiliated militants operating in Nigeria.
“To give you a sense of how committed this president is, maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who are being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria,” Hegseth said.
“He said, ‘Pete, I want the war department to focus on ensuring that we do whatever we can to protect those Christians.’”
According to the Pentagon chief, the order led to months of quiet military coordination, intelligence gathering, and operational collaboration between the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, and Nigerian security forces.
“Partnerships like that can take some time behind the scenes, but he never wavered on it. We got the assets there over the last month. There has not been much coverage of this,” he stated.
Hegseth disclosed that the operation culminated in the elimination of ISIS’ second-in-command in Nigeria, described as a key figure responsible for attacks on Christian communities and plots targeting the U.S. homeland.
“We killed ISIS’ number two in Nigeria, who is most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he said.
The latest revelation comes after Trump, followed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced the killing of globally wanted ISIS commander Al-Minuki during a precision joint air-land assault carried out by Nigerian troops and AFRICOM forces in Metele, Borno State.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria subsequently disclosed that the operation formed part of an expanded counter-terrorism campaign that has so far killed an additional 175 ISIS fighters and destroyed multiple terrorist camps, logistics hubs, weapons caches, and operational bases linked to ISWAP activities across the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement issued by Major General Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters described the operation as a major breakthrough against ISIS networks operating in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
Military authorities said the coordinated strikes significantly degraded ISIS command structures, operational capabilities, and financing networks.
Among those reportedly eliminated alongside al-Minuki were senior ISWAP figures, including Abd-al Wahhab, accused of coordinating terrorist attacks and propaganda operations; Abu Musa al-Mangawi; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, described as one of al-Minuki’s closest associates.
Giving details of the operation, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, said the assault was launched in the early hours of May 16 after months of intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, reconnaissance, and legal intercepts jointly conducted by Nigerian and American operatives.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba described the mission as “a landmark joint counter-terrorism operation of historic significance.”
According to him, intelligence reports confirmed that al-Minuki and members of his international terrorist network had established a heavily fortified enclave within Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI in Metele.
The military said the operation commenced at about 12:01 a.m. and lasted until approximately 4:00 a.m., involving synchronised air and ground assaults that sealed off all escape routes.
“The operation involved several air platforms in a synchronised air-land configuration that left the terrorists with no avenue of escape,” the military stated.
Special Forces troops were simultaneously deployed to secure the area, prevent escape, and provide extraction support where necessary.
Military authorities identified al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, as a U.S.-designated global terrorist sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State in June 2023 under Executive Order 13224.
He was described as a leading ISIS figure within the terror group’s General Directorate of Provinces, allegedly responsible for coordinating international funding, logistics, and operational directives for terrorist cells operating across Northern Borno and the wider Sahel.
The Defence Headquarters said the operation was completed without casualties among Nigerian or allied troops and credited the success to growing operational synergy between Nigerian forces and AFRICOM.
Troops are currently conducting follow-up operations aimed at hunting down fleeing insurgents, dismantling splinter cells, and preventing ISIS fighters from regrouping.
Hegseth said intelligence generated during the operations had contributed to the deaths of “hundreds” of ISIS fighters connected to attacks on Christians and threats against the United States.
“There are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the president empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people, that he deserves great credit for,” he added.