The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria, highlighting a recent joint operation that eliminated a senior ISIS leader operating from within the country.

Rubio made the remarks on Tuesday while testifying before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, according to Punch.

He said the United States remains concerned about reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria and would continue supporting efforts to address security challenges.

“Nigeria, where we were all, many were very concerned about violence against Christians,” Rubio said.

“We are now actively in counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces, including 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.”

His comments come amid growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States under the administration of Donald Trump.

In May 2026, American and Nigerian forces reportedly carried out coordinated strikes in northeastern Nigeria targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province, an affiliate of ISIS. Trump later announced the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the global number-two leader of ISIS operating from Nigeria.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the military subsequently confirmed the operation, stating that Nigerian intelligence played a key role in its success.

The security partnership has also included previous military actions. In December, US airstrikes targeted a terrorist enclave in Sokoto State, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties.

Nigeria has faced prolonged insurgencies from both Boko Haram and ISWAP, groups responsible for thousands of deaths, mass displacement and repeated attacks on civilians, particularly across the North-East and parts of the Middle Belt.

The renewed cooperation follows Washington’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern over allegations of violence against Christians. The Nigerian government rejected the characterisation and called for greater collaboration in tackling the country’s security challenges.