Trump says ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki killed in US–Nigerian operation

WASHINGTON/ABUJA: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of Islamic State globally, was killed in a joint operation carried out by US and Nigerian forces.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the strike as “a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” saying early assessments confirmed al-Minuki’s death along with several of his associates.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was “meticulously planned and very complex,” adding that US forces had tracked al-Minuki’s movements through intelligence sources.

“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 said, without disclosing the exact location of the strike.

Tinubu, in a statement posted on X, said the operation targeted a compound in the Lake Chad Basin and was carried out jointly with US forces in what he called a “daring” mission that dealt a major blow to Islamic State-linked militants in the region.

Al-Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, was a Nigerian national and had been designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the Biden administration in 2023, according to the US Federal Register.

Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the operation.

Nigeria has repeatedly rejected allegations of religious discrimination, saying its security forces target armed groups responsible for attacks on both Christians and Muslims.

The United States has stepped up its military engagement in Nigeria in recent months, including drone deployments and the stationing of around 200 troops for training and intelligence support.

Washington carried out strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria in December, amid growing insurgent activity across West Africa involving groups linked to both Islamic State and al Qaeda.