Trump lauds Tinubu’s fight against terrorism, protection of Christians

President Donald Trump of the United States of America has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, and the protection of the Christian community in particular.

The US leader conveyed the commendation in a letter to President Tinubu, and dated July 6, 2026.

The details of the letter were made public Wednesday in a statement by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Titled ‘President Trump lauds President Tinubu’s decisive leadership against terrorists’, the letter praised Tinubu’s efforts at  addressing security challenges and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

“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 honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” the letter read.

Onanuga further stated: “The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time when 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.”

While highlighting the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries, Trump, according to the letter, said: “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.”

The Presidency further said Nigeria and the United States have expanded security cooperation in recent months following the establishment of a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries.

Nigeria and the United States have strengthened security cooperation in recent months, following the establishment of a Joint Working Group co-chaired by the National Security Advisers of both countries.

The statement added that the partnership has focused on training, intelligence sharing and joint operations against terrorist groups, it said.

The statement noted that a major outcome of the partnership was the joint operation carried out on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly led to the killing of the group’s senior leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his lieutenants.

It said the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja last week, where he held talks with senior Nigerian officials and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in security and other strategic areas.

…Akpabio assures

Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians that the Tinubu – led administration will do all within its powers to ensure that the problems of insecurity currently confronting the country become a thing of the past.

Akpabio gave the assurance Wednesday while receiving in courtesy, members of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, led by its National President, Dr Lima Ahmed at the National Assembly.

“On behalf of the Nigerian Senate, I welcome you to the National Assembly. I am equally very happy to receive you in my office. As Nigerians we are all aware of the insecurity challenges we are currently facing and all I can say is that President Bola Ahmed is giving the situation its utmost attention and that is what led to the recent release of the school children that were abducted in Oyo State.

“The current administration is doing a whole lot and I can assure you that very soon, the issue of security would be a thing of past. Don’t rely on what you hear or see in the social media, they are not true reflection of what is happening in our country”, he said.

Speaking further, Akpabio traced the refusal of women in supporting themselves during elections for political offices, to the toxic behaviour of those who had in the past been given the opportunities for such positions, only to misuse it to the future detriment of other women.

Akpabio assured the golfers of his support and that of the Senate for their forthcoming international Ladies tournament to be hosted at the IBB International Golf Course in Abuja.

Earlier in her speech, Dr Lima Ahmed thanked the Senate President for accepting to receive her and her team.

She formally invited the Senate President to the planned tournament and subsequently decorated him as their grand patron of the group.