BREAKING: Trump writes Tinubu, lauds efforts in tackling violence against Christians

United States President Donald Trump has written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending his leadership and reaffirming America’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

The letter was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Trump praised Tinubu’s decisive leadership on behalf of Nigerians and his commitment to tackling terrorism, particularly the violence affecting Christian communities.

According to Trump: “It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against these terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.”

The letter comes as Nigeria and the United States continue to strengthen security cooperation through intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations against terrorist groups.

Trump and Tinubu agreed in November last year to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United States to coordinate efforts against terrorism.

Through the initiative, both countries agreed on measures including intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations to combat terrorist activities.

A major outcome of the collaboration was the coordinated May 16 operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which led to the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, and several of his lieutenants.

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The partnership was further reinforced last week when United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja and met with senior government officials, where he pledged to strengthen cooperation between Abuja and Washington on security and other areas.

Below is the full text of the letter dated July 6, 2026:

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. I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.

“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world. We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.

“I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack. I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.”

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America