President Donald Trump on Friday announced that United States forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces carried out a joint military operation that reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.
Trump disclosed the development in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform and reposted by the White House, saying the operation was conducted “at my direction” and executed “flawlessly” by American troops working alongside Nigerian forces.
According to the US leader, the mission was “meticulously planned” and involved extensive intelligence gathering aimed at tracking al-Minuki’s activities across Africa.
“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.
He added that the terror suspect “will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”
The announcement has placed Nigeria at the centre of a major international counterterrorism success, with Trump publicly commending the Nigerian government and military for their role in the operation.
“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation,” Trump stated.
Although details of the operation, including the exact location and method used, were not immediately disclosed, Reuters reported that al-Minuki had previously been designated a global terrorist by US authorities in 2023.
The operation also underscores growing military and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States amid worsening extremist threats across West Africa and the Sahel region.
