Trump Claims US Military Action Stopped Killings of Christians in Nigeria, But Nigerian Forces Led the Ground Fight
US President Donald Trump has claimed that recent American military operations in Nigeria “largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations” in the country . Speaking at an event in Washington, Trump said, “We recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations. They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered… Thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death” .
While Trump emphasised US action, military records show that Nigerian troops were the primary force on the ground, executing the most dangerous operations. The Defence Headquarters confirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria carried out the joint counterterrorism operations in close collaboration with US forces, with Nigerian soldiers leading the assault on terrorist enclaves .
Between June 4 and 11, 2026, Nigerian troops conducted multiple high-risk operations across the North-East. In one operation, soldiers rescued 360 civilians—predominantly women and children—from terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains, while 53 hostages were freed in another operation in Borno State . Troops also repelled a coordinated three-pronged assault by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, forcing the insurgents into a chaotic retreat and recovering heavy weapons .
The partnership with the US enhanced intelligence sharing, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, but Nigerian forces remained the central operational force . In May 2026, a joint US-Nigeria operation eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS globally, described by the DHQ as a “major breakthrough” . However, Nigerian troops led the ground assault on the compound in Metele, Borno State, where al-Minuki was hiding, with no casualties reported among Nigerian personnel .
The US contribution included targeted strikes, intelligence support, and specialised training programmes, but Nigerian troops conducted the fighting patrols, clearance operations, and rescue missions that freed hundreds of hostages . Nigerian forces have sustained significant losses in the campaign, while US troops have operated strictly by invitation under a joint working group framework that respects Nigeria’s sovereignty .
US Africa Command Director of Public Affairs, Colonel Rebecca Heyse, acknowledged that the partnership was “fundamentally rooted in respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty” and that US forces operated “strictly by invitation” .