United States President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, praising President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to address insecurity, including attacks affecting Christian communities.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump described the US-Nigeria relationship as increasingly important, noting that both countries share a common objective of combating terrorism. He said the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a solid framework for strengthening security collaboration.
Trump also highlighted the deployment of United States Special Operations Forces to train members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, providing them with skills, intelligence and equipment to improve national security. He said he looked forward to continued cooperation with Tinubu throughout his presidency.
The letter follows an agreement reached by both leaders in November 2025 to establish a Joint Working Group, co-chaired by the national security advisers of both countries, to enhance training, intelligence sharing and joint operations against terrorist groups. One outcome of the partnership was the May 16 operation in the Lake Chad region, which resulted in the killing of ISIS leader Abubakar Al-Minuki and several of his associates.
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria on security and other strategic areas.
US vows continued action against jihadist groups
The United States has also pledged to maintain global counter-terrorism efforts, warning that jihadist groups continue to threaten international peace despite years of military and diplomatic operations.
Speaking after a ministerial meeting on political terrorism held in Washington, Ambassador Gregory D. LoGerfo, the US State Department’s Coordinator and Ambassador-at-Large for Counter-terrorism, said representatives from 66 countries agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing, align legal frameworks and improve protection for critical infrastructure.
LoGerfo said the US would continue working with partners, including Nigeria, Somalia and Syria, through diplomacy, financial measures and military cooperation. He added that President Trump had authorised strikes against terrorist targets in those countries as part of ongoing efforts to reduce security threats.
Air strike kills over 20 ISWAP fighters in Lake Chad
Meanwhile, Operation HADIN KAI has confirmed that more than 20 ISWAP fighters were killed during a precision drone strike at Kila Bariya in the Southern Lake Chad area on July 21.
Military intelligence sources said the strike targeted a key terrorist logistics and assembly point, destroying more than 30 newly acquired motorcycles and a major food storage facility containing beans and other supplies allegedly taken from farming communities.
The military described the operation as a major setback for ISWAP, saying it significantly weakened the group’s mobility, logistics and operational capabilities across Marte, Ngala and Dikwa Local Government Areas.
ISWAP media commander among terrorists killed
Operation HADIN KAI also confirmed the death of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, an ISWAP commander who later became the group’s chief photographer and propaganda operative. He was killed alongside other members of the group’s media unit, including Abu Umar Khattab and Abu Khalid Usman, during a failed attack on troops at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State, on July 12, 2026.
Acting Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said intelligence indicated that Abu Salim had previously led cross-border attacks into Cameroon before taking charge of the group’s propaganda activities.
Goni said the deaths of the media operatives, along with other senior fighters, have weakened the group’s command structure, recruitment efforts and propaganda network, adding that Operation HADIN KAI will continue intelligence-led operations to dismantle the remaining Boko Haram and ISWAP networks in the North-East.
