US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States is actively working with the Nigerian government and security forces on counterterrorism operations, including recent joint missions targeting ISIS-linked militants.

Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., while presenting the State Department’s FY27 budget request, Rubio said the two countries recently carried out a joint operation that eliminated Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS’s global network operating from Nigeria.

Al-Minuki was killed on May 15 during an operation in the Lake Chad Basin. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the terrorist leader was responsible for numerous attacks, including the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu confirmed the operation, stating that several of Al-Minuki’s lieutenants were also killed and expressing support for further coordinated strikes against terrorist groups.

The joint US-Nigeria counterterrorism campaign has continued in recent weeks. Nigerian military authorities reported that more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were killed in airstrikes in Metele, Borno State, while another operation conducted with support from US Africa Command (AFRICOM) reportedly eliminated 21 ISWAP fighters in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area, on June 1.

Rubio said there is growing concern about violence against Christians in Nigeria and noted that counterterrorism cooperation between both countries remains ongoing.