Trump praises Tinubu’s anti-terror efforts, confirms US special forces support for Nigeria

US President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in tackling terrorism in Nigeria, revealing that the United States has deployed special operations forces to train and support the Nigerian military in its counterterrorism campaign.

The Presidency disclosed on Wednesday that Trump conveyed the message in a personal letter to Tinubu, praising what he described as the Nigerian President’s “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people.”

According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Trump said the US had deployed elite military personnel, including Navy SEAL Team 6, to assist Nigeria’s armed forces with training, intelligence and operational support.

Trump described the US-Nigeria security partnership as historic, saying both countries shared a commitment to confronting terrorism and strengthening regional stability.

In the letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump wrote: “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.”

He added that the US-Nigeria relationship had become increasingly important amid growing security challenges across West Africa and other parts of the world.

“We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat,” Trump said.

The US President said American special forces had been deployed to equip Nigerian troops with skills, tools and intelligence needed to combat terrorist groups and protect communities affected by violence.

Defence cooperation deepens

Trump’s letter marked the first public confirmation of the expanded US military involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.

The cooperation is anchored on the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap, which was developed from a Joint Working Group established by both countries in November 2025.

The framework focuses on military training, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations against terrorist groups.

A military source cited by The New York Times previously reported that a joint operation in the Lake Chad Basin on May 16, 2026, involving Nigerian forces and US Navy SEAL Team 6, killed ISWAP second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and about 40 of his commanders during an assault in Metele, Borno State.

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

US-Nigeria security ties

Onanuga said the latest development followed a visit by US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, to Abuja, where he met senior Nigerian officials and pledged stronger cooperation between both countries.

Previous US support for Nigeria’s security efforts had largely focused on sanctions, intelligence sharing and capacity building.

Nigeria has battled a prolonged insurgency since Boko Haram launched its armed campaign more than a decade ago. The conflict intensified after the emergence of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction, resulting in widespread deaths and displacement across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

President Tinubu declared a national security emergency in November 2025 amid rising insecurity across parts of the country.

The move followed Trump’s October 2025 designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christian communities.

However, the Nigerian government has rejected claims of targeted Christian persecution, maintaining that terrorism and banditry have affected both Muslims and Christians across the country.