By Abigail David
The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has disclosed that President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Christians in Nigeria targeted by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-linked groups.
Speaking during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
According to him, the operation involved intelligence sharing, military coordination and deployment of assets, leading to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
Hegseth said the operation also resulted in the elimination of several ISIS fighters linked to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and threats against the United States.
He stated that intelligence gathered during the mission helped security forces target and eliminate hundreds of ISIS members operating in the region.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader counterterrorism efforts and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was reportedly killed earlier this month during a coordinated military operation in northeast Nigeria involving U.S. and Nigerian forces
