U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, was killed during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces.
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The announcement was made by Trump on Friday via Truth Social, where he described the mission as a “meticulously planned and very complex operation” executed at his direction by U.S. forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The development marks a significant escalation in joint counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States as both countries intensify efforts to contain the growing threat posed by ISIS and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent groups across West Africa.
What Trump is saying
Trump said the operation successfully eliminated one of the world’s most active terrorist leaders, whom he claimed had been operating from Africa.
- “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump stated.
- “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.”
- Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for supporting the operation, describing the partnership as critical to the success of the mission.
The U.S. President, however, did not disclose the precise location where the operation took place.
Backstory
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a Nigerian national, had previously been designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden in 2023, according to records published in the U.S. Federal Register.
The operation comes amid growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja following rising concerns over the spread of ISIS-linked and Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgent groups across West Africa and the Sahel region.
- The United States had earlier conducted airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria in December.
- Washington subsequently deployed drones and about 200 military personnel to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support to Nigerian security forces.
- Nigerian military authorities had earlier clarified that U.S. troops deployed to the country were operating strictly in non-combat advisory and intelligence-support roles.
The renewed cooperation also follows repeated concerns raised by Trump over insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks linked to Islamist militant groups operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
Nigeria has consistently denied allegations of religious bias in its security operations, maintaining that its armed forces target criminal and extremist groups irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
What you should know
The killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki is likely to be viewed as a major symbolic and operational victory for both Nigerian and U.S. counterterrorism efforts, particularly at a time when extremist networks are expanding their activities across West Africa.
The development comes as the United States recently identified West Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin among the world’s most dangerous terrorism hotspots in its newly released 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy document.
In April, the Federal Government released a list of 48 individuals and entities allegedly linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria.
- In May 2021, the Federal Government announced that it had commenced profiling well-placed Nigerians suspected of financing terrorism for prosecution.
