Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Our military operation against terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria continues: U.S. Govt

In May, U.S. forces in collaboration with Nigerian army carried out airstrikes, killing Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.

• June 3, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio [Credit: newsweek.com]

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that America’s military onslaught against terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria will continue. 

Mr Rubio spoke about U.S. military operation targetted against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Tuesday when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request.

“On Nigeria, where we were all, many were very concerned about violence against Christians. We are now actively in counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces, including a joint operation a couple of weeks ago that took out the number two leader of global ISIS operating from inside of the country, and that continues,” Mr Rubio said.

In May, U.S. forces in collaboration with Nigerian army carried out airstrikes, killing Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a wanted top ISIS commander, in North-East, Nigeria.

Mr Al-Mainuki, 44, is a Nigerian, born in Mainok, Benisheikh, Borno State, Nigeria’s years-long insurgency battleground. The U.S. authorities designated Mr Al-Minuki a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on June 8, 2023.

The elimination of Mr Al-Minuki comes five months after American forces bombarded terrorists cells in Sokoto State in December 2025, killing many of the militias.

Campaign over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, triggered Mr Trump’s action, including his designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern last year.

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