RismadarVoice Reporters, May 28, 2026
The United States Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, has said the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS, is connected to ongoing efforts to protect Christians in Nigeria.
Al-Minuki was reportedly killed on May 15 during a joint military operation carried out by US and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin region.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said the operation was part of a broader US counterterrorism campaign targeting ISIS elements operating in Nigeria.
He stated that the directive followed concerns raised by President Donald Trump over attacks on Christian communities in the country.
“Maybe a year ago, the President heard the concerns of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS,” Hegseth said, according to a Pentagon briefing.
“And he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians.’”
Hegseth added that over the past month, US forces had eliminated a senior ISIS commander allegedly responsible for attacks on Christians and plots against the United States.
He also said intelligence-driven operations had resulted in the killing of hundreds of suspected fighters linked to extremist activities in the Lake Chad Basin.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier confirmed the death of Al-Minuki, noting that several of his associates were also killed during the joint operation.
According to Hegseth, US military efforts in the region have intensified in recent months as part of a wider strategy to dismantle ISIS networks operating in Nigeria and surrounding countries.
He further reaffirmed that the Trump administration remains committed to protecting vulnerable Christian populations and supporting regional counterterrorism operations in West Africa.
