United States President Donald Trump has announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), during a joint military operation carried out in Nigeria by American and Nigerian forces.
Trump made the disclosure in a statement posted on social media, where he praised both the United States military and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as a carefully coordinated and highly complex counterterrorism mission.
According to the American president, the operation was executed following intelligence reports that tracked the movements and activities of the senior ISIS leader, who had allegedly been operating from Africa while coordinating terrorist activities.
“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.
He identified the slain terrorist as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and described him as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, adding that the terror leader had attempted to evade international security agencies by hiding in Africa.
Trump said intelligence sources working with the United States had been closely monitoring al-Minuki’s movements and operational activities before the mission was eventually carried out successfully.
“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.
The US president further declared that the elimination of the ISIS commander would significantly weaken the terror group’s global operational capacity and reduce its ability to coordinate attacks internationally.
According to him, al-Minuki had been deeply involved in terrorist operations targeting both African countries and American interests abroad.
“He will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump added.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.”
Although Trump did not provide specific details regarding the exact location of the operation in Nigeria or the timeline of the mission, the announcement has already drawn significant international attention due to the high-profile status of the slain ISIS figure.
The statement also highlighted growing military and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in tackling terrorism and insurgency across West Africa.
Trump acknowledged the role played by the Nigerian government and military authorities in the successful execution of the operation and expressed appreciation for the partnership between both countries.
The American president specifically thanked Nigeria for its collaboration, describing the joint mission as a reflection of effective international security cooperation against global terrorism.
Trump said, “I want to thank the Nigerian government for its partnership on this operation.”
The development comes amid ongoing security challenges in parts of Nigeria and the wider West African region, where extremist groups linked to ISIS and other terrorist organisations have continued to carry out attacks against civilians, security personnel and government institutions.
Nigeria has for years battled insurgent groups, particularly in the North-East, where factions affiliated with ISIS and Boko Haram have remained active despite sustained military operations.
Security analysts believe the killing of a top ISIS commander could deal a major symbolic and operational blow to extremist networks operating within the region, especially if the individual indeed played a central role in coordinating international terrorist activities.
However, authorities in Nigeria had yet to issue an official detailed statement on the operation as of the time of filing this report.
There was also no immediate confirmation from the Nigerian military regarding the exact circumstances surrounding the mission or the extent of Nigeria’s involvement beyond Trump’s announcement.
The operation nevertheless signals the continued strategic importance of Nigeria in global counterterrorism efforts, particularly as international powers intensify collaboration with African nations to combat extremist groups expanding their presence across the continent.
Observers note that the Sahel and parts of West Africa have increasingly become hotspots for terrorist activities in recent years, prompting greater intelligence sharing and joint military engagements between African governments and foreign allies.
Trump’s announcement is also likely to reignite discussions around the growing influence of ISIS affiliates in Africa and the need for stronger regional and international responses to security threats.
While the identity and activities of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki remain largely unknown to the public, his designation by Trump as ISIS’s global second-in-command suggests he occupied one of the highest operational positions within the terrorist organisation.
Counterterrorism experts say eliminating senior terrorist leaders often disrupts planning, recruitment and operational coordination within extremist networks, although such groups have historically attempted to reorganise after leadership losses.
The reported success of the joint operation may therefore represent a major milestone in ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS-linked networks operating across Africa and beyond.
Further details surrounding the mission are expected in the coming days from both American and Nigerian authorities.
