US President Donald Trump announced that American and Nigerian forces killed a senior leader of the Islamic State group during a joint operation in Nigeria.
In a statement published on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, described as the second-highest-ranking figure within the organization, had been “eliminated” after intelligence sources located his hiding place in Africa. The president did not disclose the exact location of the operation.
Trump described Abu Bilal as one of the world’s most active terrorists, adding that his death would significantly weaken the global operations of the Islamic State organization.
The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and partnership in carrying out the mission.
According to US federal records, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki was identified as a Nigerian national and was designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the administration of former President Joe Biden in 2023.
The announcement comes amid expanding American military cooperation with Nigeria and other West African countries to combat armed groups linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda across the region.
The United States carried out airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria in December last year. Since then, Washington has deployed drones and approximately 200 military personnel to provide intelligence support and training to Nigerian forces involved in counterterrorism operations.
Nigeria has faced growing security challenges in recent years due to insurgent activities and militant attacks across several regions, particularly in the country’s northwest and northeast.
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