United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has revealed that President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Nigerian Christians targeted by ISIS-linked terrorists, leading to a major counterterrorism operation in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent briefing, Hegseth said intelligence gathered during the mission helped U.S. forces and partners eliminate the second-in-command of ISIS in Nigeria and contributed to the deaths of hundreds of fighters linked to attacks on Christian communities and threats against the United States homeland.
According to him, the operation was carried out quietly without attracting major media attention, despite its significance in weakening terrorist networks operating within the region.
“There’s 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,” Hegseth said.
The Defense Secretary noted that the operation formed part of broader U.S. counterterrorism efforts aimed at dismantling ISIS affiliates across Africa, especially groups accused of violent attacks against civilians and religious communities.
Although Hegseth did not disclose the exact timeline or operational details, he stressed that the mission significantly disrupted ISIS activities in Nigeria and reduced threats posed by the terror group.
Nigeria has faced years of insurgency and terrorist attacks from extremist groups operating mainly in the northern parts of the country, with several communities repeatedly targeted by armed militants.
