U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has commended President Donald Trump for directing the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Christians in Nigeria from ISIS-linked groups. In a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, Moore praised Trump for authorising a joint operation between the United States and Nigeria that led to the killing of ISIS global deputy leader, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Moore’s remarks followed comments by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a White House meeting, where he explained how intelligence gathering and the operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of ISIS fighters linked to attacks on Christians and threats against the United States. “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.
Reacting to the development, Moore said President Trump had demonstrated firm leadership in protecting persecuted Christians in Nigeria.“Thank you, President Trump, for defending our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria who have faced unspeakable slaughter and martyrdom at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists. “President Trump’s steadfast leadership paved the way to these successful strikes on ISIS, including the mission that killed Abu-Bilal al-Muniki, ISIS’ number two globally.
“This strike sent a clear message to the world — those who target innocent Christians will be hunted down and brought to justice. Never test @POTUS’s resolve,” Moore stated. Nigeria has faced years of attacks linked to ISIS-affiliated groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and armed Fulani militants, with thousands reportedly killed and millions displaced, prompting increased counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
The killing of Al-Minuki earlier this month, alongside several of his top commanders during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, highlighted the growing operational partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorism. Al-Minuki was regarded as a highly influential terrorist figure with deep ties to ISIS and Boko Haram. He reportedly became Head of the General Directorate of States in February 2026, making him one of the world’s most prominent ISIS leaders.
He was accused of coordinating operations across West Africa that led to widespread killings and destruction, while also deploying fighters to countries such as Libya in 2015 and 2016 to expand ISIS activities on the continent. Officials said the operation against Al-Minuki reflected the deepening commitment of both Nigeria and the United States to dismantle terrorist networks through intelligence sharing, strategic support, and joint military operations.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
