Joint Operation Kills ISIS Leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki
US President Donald Trump announced that American and Nigerian forces have successfully killed the "second in command of ISIS globally" during a military operation in Africa.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump described the joint mission as "flawlessly executed... to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world," referring to Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Al-Minuki was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023.
The Nigerian military has not yet issued a statement regarding the raid. If confirmed, this operation could represent a significant setback for the Islamic State group (IS), following the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019.
The BBC has reached out to both the US government and Nigerian authorities for comment.
Al-Minuki's Role and Influence
Also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, al-Minuki was responsible for directing IS-affiliated cells across Africa, particularly the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). This group has established a strong presence in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region, with cross-border operations extending into Niger, Chad, and Mali.
Trump's announcement did not include additional details about the operation or specify the timeline of the joint mission.
Impact on IS Networks and US-Nigerian Cooperation
President Trump characterized al-Minuki's death as a major blow to IS's networks both in Africa and globally, disrupting their funding and command structures.
"We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership," Trump said, adding that Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans."
Military cooperation between Nigeria and the US has intensified as Nigeria increases efforts to combat extremist violence.
In April, IS claimed responsibility for an attack in Nigeria's north-eastern Adamawa state, where gunmen killed at least 29 people at a football pitch.
Last Christmas, US and Nigerian forces conducted a joint airstrike in Nigeria's Sokoto state targeting IS-linked groups.
