Trump Orders Pentagon to Protect Nigerian Christians from ISIS

U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth revealed that former President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to focus on protecting Christians in Nigeria from ISIS killings.

This directive was given nearly a year ago as part of a broader counterterrorism strategy in the Lake Chad region. Hegseth made this disclosure during a press briefing at the White House, noting that Trump had received reports about the repeated killings of Christians in Nigeria linked to ISIS.

The operations involved intelligence sharing and military coordination with Nigerian security forces, leading to the elimination of Abu Bilal al Minuki, a second-in-command of ISIS in the region, during a joint military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month. Hegseth emphasized that these operations, while impactful for international security, often receive little public attention despite their significance.

The ongoing battle against insurgent attacks in Nigeria, particularly from groups like Boko Haram, continues to pose a serious threat to local communities.