US Hails Nigeria Counterterrorism Efforts, Confirms Joint ISIS Strike
The United States has confirmed renewed counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria, revealing that a recent joint operation by both countries led to the elimination of a senior global leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) operating from within Nigeria.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, disclosed this while speaking on U.S. foreign policy and international security cooperation, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
According to Rubio, the United States has deepened collaboration with Nigerian security agencies in response to growing concerns over insecurity and violent extremism in parts of the country.
“On Nigeria, where many were very concerned about violence against citizens, we are now actively cooperating in counterterrorism with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces,” he said.
Rubio disclosed that the partnership had already yielded significant operational success, citing a joint mission carried out weeks ago that targeted a top ISIS commander.
“We had a joint operation a couple of weeks ago that took out the number two leader of global ISIS, operating from inside of the country, and that continues,” he stated.
Although the U.S. official did not mention the individual by name, however, Nigerian military authorities had earlier announced the elimination of senior ISIS operative Abu-Bilal al-Minuki during coordinated operations involving Nigerian forces and the United States.
The operation, according to Nigerian defence authorities, dealt a significant blow to ISIS-linked networks, disrupting logistics, recruitment, financing and operational coordination linked to terrorist activities.
Rubio’s remarks highlight growing security cooperation between both countries as Nigeria continues to confront threats posed by terrorist groups including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) across the North-East and parts of the Lake Chad region.
Nigeria has consistently sought stronger international partnerships to address terrorism, illicit arms trafficking and cross-border criminal networks affecting the wider Sahel and West African sub-region.
The latest U.S. acknowledgment comes amid renewed international attention on insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel, where extremist groups continue to exploit fragile borders and governance gaps.
The United States and Nigeria have maintained longstanding collaboration in counterterrorism, peacekeeping, governance and economic development, with both countries increasingly strengthening intelligence sharing and joint security efforts.
By TimesNG