WASHINGTON D.C. / ABUJA — In a major blow to global terrorism, ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki has been killed in Nigeria during a joint military operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the success of the “complex mission” early Saturday morning via social media, praising the flawless execution of the raid.
”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… He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”
President Trump also extended his gratitude to the Nigerian government for its vital partnership in the operation.
The high-profile elimination of al-Minuki underscores the rapidly expanding security alliance between Washington and Abuja. This cooperation intensified significantly following the United States’ re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), which paved the way for:
- Expanded counter-terrorism security support
- Deepened real-time intelligence sharing
- High-stakes joint military operations targeting insurgent networks
This collaborative framework saw a major boost in March, when the U.S. deployed approximately 200 troops alongside multiple MQ-9 drones to Nigeria. The deployment was aimed at providing advanced training and critical intelligence surveillance to assist Nigerian forces in dismantling Islamist militant enclaves.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters had previously signaled this wave of joint operations, noting that both nations would be engaging in a series of highly coordinated, intelligence-driven exercises.
The successful strike against al-Minuki follows a pattern of increasing tactical pressure in the region, building on previous U.S.-led intelligence gathering and targeted strikes against terrorist hideouts in northern Nigeria, including a notable operation in Sokoto State late last year.
