United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his “decisive leadership” in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, while confirming that elite American Special Operations Forces have been deployed to train and support the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The disclosure was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, which was made public on Wednesday by the Presidency through a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the letter, Trump praised Tinubu’s determination to confront terrorism and described the growing security partnership between Nigeria and the United States as historic.
“Dear Mr President, thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people,” Trump wrote.
He also revealed that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces, including the elite US Navy SEAL Team 6, to train and support Nigerian troops in the fight against terrorism.
According to Trump, the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for intelligence sharing, military training and coordinated counterterrorism operations between both countries.
The roadmap was formalised in 2026 after a Joint Working Group established by Nigeria and the United States in November 2025 agreed on deeper military collaboration.
The Presidency said one of the most significant outcomes of the partnership was the May 16, 2026 operation in Metele, Borno State, during which Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISWAP’s second-in-command, and about 40 senior commanders were reportedly killed.
Three days later, the Defence Headquarters announced that about 175 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters had been eliminated since the commencement of the joint operations.
The Presidency also disclosed that US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and other strategic interests.
Although Trump referenced violence against Christian communities in his letter, the Federal Government has maintained that terrorist attacks in Nigeria have affected both Christians and Muslims and has repeatedly rejected allegations that the conflict targets only one religious group.
