US Lawmaker Warns Terrorists in Nigeria, Praises Trump-Backed Operation

United States Congressman Riley Moore has warned terrorist groups operating in Nigeria not to “test” President Donald Trump’s resolve, following a reported joint Nigerian-American military operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally.

Moore, a Republican lawmaker on the House Appropriations Committee, made the remarks during an interview on NewsNation, where he discussed the operation and wider insecurity in north-eastern Nigeria.

“Do not test President Trump’s resolve,” Moore said, adding that the strike sends a strong message to terrorist groups targeting civilians.

“Those who target innocent Christians will be hunted down and brought to justice,” he stated.

He also credited Trump with ordering the joint operation, describing it as part of a broader effort to address religiously motivated violence in Nigeria. In a post on X, Moore said the US president was “laser focused” on protecting Christian communities in the country.

According to him, Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a “nation of particular concern” and personally tasked him with investigating alleged religious persecution.

“President Trump tasked me personally to go investigate this issue of Christian persecution in Nigeria… which I did,” Moore said, adding that he visited Nigeria with members of the House Appropriations Committee.

He noted that recommendations from the visit had been submitted to the White House to support efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable communities.

Moore also said US involvement in Nigeria’s security challenges dates back several years, linking it to the rise of Boko Haram and prolonged instability in the region.

The Defence Headquarters confirmed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a “meticulously planned and highly coordinated” precision strike in the Lake Chad Basin carried out by Nigerian forces in coordination with US Africa Command.

Military officials described him as a highly influential ISIS commander involved in weapons manufacturing, drone development, and global operations, with reported ties to Boko Haram before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015.

He was previously sanctioned by the United States in 2023 and was allegedly linked to major terror attacks, including the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction.

Authorities said intelligence suggested he may have recently been elevated to a senior leadership position within ISIS’s global structure prior to his death.