Marco Rubio has said the United States will continue active counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria and its security agencies, citing a recent joint operation that eliminated a senior ISIS leader operating within the country.

Rubio made the remarks on Tuesday while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on the US State Department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request.

According to him, the US remains concerned about reported violence against Christians in Nigeria and will continue to support efforts aimed at tackling insecurity.

“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 the country, and that continues,” he added.

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

In May 2026, US and Nigerian forces reportedly carried out joint strikes in northeastern Nigeria targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province, an ISIS affiliate operating in the region.

Trump had publicly announced the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global number-two leader, who was allegedly operating from Nigeria.

Nigeria’s military authorities and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, later confirmed the operation, stating that Nigerian intelligence played a significant role.

In December 2025, US airstrikes were also reported to have targeted a terrorist enclave in Sokoto State, resulting in casualties among suspected militants.

Nigeria continues to face security threats from extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, which have been linked to killings, kidnappings, displacement of residents, and attacks on communities across northern Nigeria and parts of the Middle Belt.

The renewed cooperation follows the Trump administration’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of violence against Christians.

The Nigerian government rejected the designation and called instead for continued international cooperation in addressing insecurity.