Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says President Donald Trump has issued orders directing the U.S. Pentagon to protect Nigerian Christians who are targeted by ISIS-linked militants. Hegseth describes the policy as a response to attacks and killings in Nigeria, framing the effort as protecting civilians at risk. According to the outlets, Hegseth also says the directive contributed to military operations aimed at ISIS in Nigeria. One report states that Trump’s instruction triggered anti-ISIS strikes, with the stated goals of providing protection for Christians and disrupting or eliminating key ISIS leaders. The accounts describe U.S. involvement through actions carried out by the Pentagon, without detailing specific locations, timelines, or names of targets. Across the reports, the core points remain consistent: Hegseth attributes the protective and anti-ISIS operations in Nigeria to a Trump directive and links the measures to the threat faced by Nigerian Christian communities. None of the sources provide independent verification or additional operational details beyond Hegseth’s statements.