US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in Nigeria during a joint operation by US and Nigerian forces. Trump described al-Minuki as the second in command of the “Islamic State” globally and said his death would prevent him from “terroriz[ing] the people of Africa, or help[ing] plan operations to target Americans.” He added that removing al-Minuki leaves IS’ global operation “greatly diminished” and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called the mission a “significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” saying the strike on a compound in the Lake Chad Basin also killed “several” of al-Minuki’s lieutenants. Both leaders framed the operation as a coordinated effort against a high-level IS leader in the region.
The announcement comes amid heightened focus on violence by Islamist militant groups across Nigeria. The country has long battled a range of armed groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. Last year, the US carried out strikes it said targeted Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on December 25, following President Trump’s public claims that Christians in Nigeria were being persecuted — allegations Nigerian authorities have denied.
Officials have not released detailed operational or casualty reports beyond the statements from the US president and Nigeria’s leader. The reported killing marks a notable development in international and regional counterterrorism efforts in the Lake Chad basin and northern Nigeria.