US President Donald Trump on Friday announced the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, in a joint operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces.
Describing the mission as “meticulously planned and very complex,” Trump said it was executed flawlessly under his direction.
“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. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources keeping us informed of his actions,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was responsible for managing ISIS operations in Africa’s Sahel region. He was designated as a global terrorist in 2023 by the US State Department under then-president Joe Biden.
“He will no longer terrorise people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump caimed, adding that the elimination of al-Minuki would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operations.
“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” he said.
The killing of al-Minuki comes amid a recent surge of terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s northeastern states, largely attributed to the Islamic State group.
Vulnerable rural communities in the country frequently face attacks from Islamic extremists and bandits, who exploit the country’s vast rural areas and security gaps. Among the most active Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), affiliated with the Islamic State.
Other groups include the IS-linked Lakurawa and various bandit gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining.
Since 2009, Nigeria has been grappling with a complex security crisis marked by kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks across the northern regions. Earlier, US President Donald Trump had warned of potential military action if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians in the country.
