Trump commends Tinubu’s anti-terror efforts, confirms US special forces support

United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism, while confirming the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria’s military operations.

 

The Presidency disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Trump conveyed the message in a letter dated July 6, 2026.

 

According to the statement, Trump praised Tinubu’s efforts to address insecurity, particularly attacks on Christian communities, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

 

“I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and it is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote.

 

The US President also confirmed that his administration deployed US Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEAL Team 6, to train and support the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap.

 

He described the partnership as a historic framework for strengthening intelligence sharing, military training and joint counter-terrorism operations.

 

The Presidency said the roadmap was formalised in 2026 following the establishment of a Joint Working Group by both countries in November 2025.

 

According to the statement, a joint operation carried out in the Lake Chad Basin on May 16, 2026, reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with about 40 of his lieutenants.

 

It added that the Defence Headquarters later announced that about 175 ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters had been killed since the commencement of the joint operations.

 

The Presidency also noted that US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to expanding security cooperation and other areas of bilateral engagement with Nigeria.

 

While Trump referenced attacks on Christian communities in his letter, the Federal Government has maintained that terrorism and banditry in Nigeria affect both Christians and Muslims and has rejected claims that the violence specifically targets one religious group.