The U.S. government has taken significant military action to counter the deadly persecution of Christians in Nigeria in recent days.
Overnight on May 16, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) working alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other senior ISIS leaders in northeastern Nigeria, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on X.
“This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are,” Hegseth said.
President Trump has called al-Minuki “second in command of ISIS globally.”
Al-Minuki played a vital role in ISIS operations, overseeing attack planning, financial operations and the production of weapons, explosives and drones. He also directed hostage-taking efforts, including highway abductions, which have become increasingly common across Nigeria.
In another attack Monday, AFRICOM, in coordination with the Nigerian government, carried out additional strikes against ISIS targets in northeastern Nigeria. Officials confirmed the targets were ISIS militants, and no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.
As of today, Nigeria Major General Samaila Uba announced on X that the joint strikes have delivered a devastating blow, and assessments indicate that 175 ISIS terrorists have been eliminated.
“The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the U.S. and our partners,” AFRICOM said.
These military operations come amid a sharp rise in deadly violence against Christians in Nigeria, which accounted for more than 70% of Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year. According to InterSociety, a Nigerian human rights organization, an estimated 1,404 Christians have been killed and 1,800 abducted between Jan. 1 and Easter Sunday this year. These figures include the Easter attack in which at least 27 were killed.
InterSociety has previously reported in 2025 that there are “no fewer than 22 embryonic and full grown Islamic terror groups in Africa” with links to ISIS, ISIL and World Jihad Fund. Their mission is clear: turning Nigeria into an Islamic caliphate — a Muslim-led government based on Sharia law.
The desperation of the situation has led many Nigerian pastors and evangelists to call on the U.S. and Trump administration for help. Holding signs at a recent rally, they plead: “President Trump please don’t disappoint us. We Nigerian Christians are still waiting for you. The killing is still going on.”
America is the country others turn to in their darkest hour.
As Christians, we must remember that those suffering in Nigeria under Islamic terror are not simply distant believers, they are part of the same body. They are a part of us.
Scripture reminds us that we are one body (1 Cor. 12:12-13), and with that unity comes responsibility: to care for each other, stay informed and to help other Christians when they suffer.
Although Christians in America thankfully do not face the same level of hardship as those in Nigeria, concerns about religious freedom in the U.S. are increasing. Islamic influence across major U.S. cities is growing and states are enacting legislation to ban Sharia law.
Many global ministries have great resources, statistics and specific prayer requests about the ongoing crisis in Nigeria including Global Christian Relief, Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors US.
They also offer opportunities to support a displaced Christian family in an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp, provide funds to replace Bibles destroyed by Muslim extremists and aid those under violent attacks by providing much needed medical and other material assistance.
The Daily Citizen thanks the U.S. government for taking action and we thank God for leaders in D.C. who care about protecting Christians around the globe.
Please continue to pray for Nigerian Christians as they face widespread death and destruction.
Related articles and resources:
We Cannot Ignore the Plight of Nigerian Christians Being Slaughtered By Islamic Terrorists
How Should Christians Respond to Thousands of Muslims Praying in Washington Square Park?
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