US General Visits Nigeria as Trump Orders Strikes Against Retreating Islamist Militants

In Nigeria, terrorists are reportedly “on the run” following U.S. military strikes last month that aimed to halt the systematic killing of Christians in Africa’s most populous country, according to sources speaking to reporters this week. The development comes as U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, deputy commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Nigeria as part of an American delegation.

According to the persecution watchdog Open Doors World Watch List, Nigeria has become the epicenter of Christian persecution globally, with three out of every four Christians killed for their faith worldwide being murdered in the West African nation. The organization estimates that one Christian is killed in Nigeria approximately every two and a half hours.

President Trump confirmed the military action during an appearance in Davos, Switzerland, stating, “In Nigeria we’re annihilating terrorists who are killing Christians. We’ve hit them very hard. They’ve killed thousands and thousands of Christians.”

Speaking exclusively from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Lt. Gen. Brennan detailed the U.S. military’s current role in the country. “We are continuing to provide them intelligence support, airborne ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), things that will make them more accurate,” he said, adding that Nigerian forces have seen success in the Sokoto region following the strikes.

“A lot of terrorists decided to flee the area, and it allowed the Nigerians the opportunity to arrest them,” Brennan explained. The general emphasized that the U.S. approach is focused on enabling Nigeria to address its security challenges independently: “We’re all about enabling Nigerians to solve Nigerian problems. We want to ensure that they remain a security anchor for all of West Africa.”

Illia Djadi, persecution analyst for sub-Saharan Africa at Open Doors, confirmed the impact of the strikes, telling reporters, “I definitely have a good reason to believe that the target was hit, and when I say target, I mean these armed men, people or groups, their camps have been hit, and eventually afflicting damage to them. They are on the run now. Fleeing in different directions.”

According to Djadi, the military action has created a significant shift in the security dynamics. “All these years, they have been acting and attacking with relative total impunity. But this has changed now. They are scared now,” he noted, adding that the strikes have resonated beyond Nigeria’s borders into neighboring countries like Niger and Mali.

The U.S.-Nigeria cooperation was further solidified during a plenary session attended by Lt. Gen. Brennan, where Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker emphasized America’s commitment to helping Nigeria “deter violence against Christian communities, prioritizing counterterrorism and insecurity, investigating attacks, holding perpetrators accountable and reducing the number of killings, forced displacements and abductions of Christians.”

Despite these efforts, the violence continues. Just days before the high-level meeting in Abuja, over 160 worshippers were reportedly kidnapped from three churches in northern Kaduna state during Sunday services, highlighting the ongoing severity of the situation.

President Trump has indicated that further military action is possible, telling The New York Times earlier this month, “If they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.” When questioned about potential additional strikes, a U.S. defense official told reporters, “That’s a question for the White House. But I can tell you our Nigerian partners are asking for more of our help. And so we’re going to give it to them.”

Brennan confirmed that while there are some American military personnel in Nigeria, their numbers are not significant. “A lot of assessment is going on. So we have a small team that the Nigerians invited in, and we’re working with them to assess their needs, and to create opportunities that we can both capitalize on together.”

Some U.S. military equipment is being delivered to Nigeria, though Brennan characterized it as “nothing out of the ordinary,” primarily consisting of previously purchased ammunition and supplies to help Nigerian forces be more accurate in operations against ISIS West Africa Province and Boko Haram.

Rabiu Ibrahim, Nigeria’s special assistant to the minister of information and national orientation, described the relationship with the U.S. as “robust, multifaceted and transcends mere rhetoric,” emphasizing that Nigeria views the partnership not as a “patron-client relationship, but a partnership where Nigerian leadership on the ground is augmented by specific, requested external support.”

As the situation continues to evolve, both American and Nigerian officials appear committed to strengthening their security cooperation to combat the terrorist groups threatening Nigeria’s Christian communities and regional stability.