United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has disclosed that President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Nigerian Christians allegedly targeted by ISIS-linked terrorist groups.

Hegseth made the revelation during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, stating that Trump issued the directive about a year ago after receiving reports of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.

“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.

According to him, the operation involved strategic military coordination, intelligence gathering, and deployment of specialised assets to the region.

The US official further disclosed that the operation led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s second-in-command in Nigeria and a key figure allegedly linked to attacks on Christians and threats against US 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 US homeland,” Hegseth said.

He explained that intelligence gathered during the operation subsequently led to the elimination of several other ISIS fighters operating within the Lake Chad Basin region through joint efforts involving US and Nigerian forces.

“And have since, because of the intel we gathered, killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria,” he added.

Hegseth noted that the operation demonstrated the Trump administration’s commitment to counterterrorism operations and the protection of vulnerable communities facing extremist violence.

“So 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 stated.

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The United States military has confirmed the deployment of a small team of troops to Nigeria to support efforts against Boko Haram, banditry and other terrorist threats, marking the first official acknowledgement of US forces on Nigerian soil since recent American airstrikes.

The confirmation came from General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), who spoke to journalists during a briefing in Dakar. He said the deployment followed bilateral discussions in which both countries agreed that stronger action was needed to address rising insecurity in West Africa.

According to Anderson, the decision has led to increased cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, including the deployment of a limited US military team with specialised capabilities.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” he said, without disclosing the size or specific mandate of the force.

The deployment follows airstrikes ordered by former US President Donald Trump in December, which he said targeted Islamic State elements operating in Nigeria. Trump had also warned that further military action could follow.

Reuters had earlier reported that the US military had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since at least late November, suggesting heightened monitoring of militant activity in the region.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), confirmed that a US team was currently operating in the country but declined to give further operational details.

A former US official familiar with the situation said the American personnel were largely focused on intelligence gathering and providing support that enables Nigerian forces to carry out operations against terrorist-linked groups.

The development comes amid increasing pressure from Washington, following accusations by Trump that Nigeria had failed to adequately protect Christian communities from Islamist militants, particularly in the northwest. The Nigerian government has rejected claims of systematic persecution, maintaining that security forces are targeting armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified attacks in recent months, targeting military convoys and civilian populations. While the northeast remains the historic base of the insurgency, the northwest has emerged as a major hotspot for terrorist violence and banditry.

AFRICOM also disclosed that a recent US-coordinated strike in Sokoto State, carried out in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, killed several Islamic State fighters. The strike, the command said, was part of broader efforts to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups threatening regional stability.

The US military presence highlights growing international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges, as militant violence continues to spread across parts of the country more than 17 years after the Boko Haram insurgency began.

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The United States military has drawn up contingency plans for potential strikes in Nigeria following a directive from President Donald Trump.

According to a report by the New York Times, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has submitted operational options to the Department of War at the request of Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The plans include three levels of engagement — heavy, medium, and light — designed to allow for a controlled escalation of U.S. involvement.

Under the “heavy option,” the U.S. could deploy an aircraft carrier group to the Gulf of Guinea and use fighter jets or long-range bombers to strike targets in northern Nigeria. The “medium option” involves drone strikes on militant camps and convoys, while the “light option” focuses on joint operations supporting Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups.

Military officials told the newspaper that the plans aim to neutralize Islamist militants, protect Christian communities, and end the prolonged insurgency in Nigeria’s north.

However, concerns have been raised about the feasibility of these plans, especially since U.S. forces vacated drone bases in Agadez and Niamey, Niger, earlier this year—facilities now occupied by Russian troops.

Last week, President Trump accused the Nigerian government of allowing the “mass slaughter” of Christians, labeling the country a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and suspending arms sales and technical assistance to Abuja. The claim has been denied by Nigerian officials.

Trump, however, maintained that any U.S. action would be “fast, vicious, and sweet,” declaring that America would not “stand by while atrocities are happening.”

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has backed the president’s stance, describing Nigeria as “the most dangerous nation on Earth to follow Christ” and urging stronger action against religious persecution.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s government continues to reject accusations of religiously motivated killings, insisting that ongoing insecurity stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than targeted persecution.

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