United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed ongoing counterterrorism collaboration with Nigeria, highlighting a recent joint operation that eliminated the second-in-command of global ISIS. Speaking Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the State Department's 2027 budget request, Rubio credited the effort as part of sustained security coordination between the two nations. Video of the testimony was published by the Department of State on Wednesday.
Rubio referenced the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS's global number-two leader, during a joint strike in Nigeria's northeast in May 2026. Nigerian military officials and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed the operation, stating that Nigeria supplied critical intelligence. U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted the strikes together, targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an ISIS affiliate active in the region.
In December, U.S. airstrikes hit a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, resulting in an unspecified number of deaths. Rubio also expressed concern over alleged violence against Christians in Nigeria, reaffirming U.S. support to address the issue. The U.S. government previously designated Nigeria a country of particular concern over the allegations. The Nigerian federal government has denied the claims but continues to engage in security cooperation with the United States.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have been responsible for numerous fatalities, civilian attacks, and mass displacement in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt for years. The latest joint actions underscore the deepening military coordination between the U.S. and Nigeria under the Trump administration.
Marco Rubio cites Nigerian cooperation in killing an ISIS leader while the U.S. simultaneously brands Nigeria a violator of religious freedom. The same government accused of targeting Christians is now a key intelligence partner in U.S. counterterrorism operations. Nigerians named in the operation, like National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, are now aligned with a foreign power that officially condemns their government's conduct. This dual stance risks undermining the credibility of both the U.S. designation and the joint security claims.
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