United States President Donald Trump has announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State terrorist group globally, has been killed in Nigeria during a joint military operation involving American and Nigerian forces.
Trump disclosed this in a social media post in the early hours of Saturday, stating that al-Minuki was eliminated in what he described as a meticulously planned and highly complex mission carried out by U.S. troops alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to the U.S. president, the operation was conducted under his directive and successfully removed one of the world’s most active terrorists from the battlefield.
“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 wrote.
He added that al-Minuki, whom he identified as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, believed he could evade capture by hiding in Africa, but intelligence sources continued to monitor his movements.
Trump said the terrorist leader would no longer pose a threat to Africa or assist in planning attacks against American interests, noting that his elimination would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operations.
The U.S. president also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for its cooperation and partnership in the operation.
The development comes amid growing military cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, particularly following Washington’s decision to re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Reports indicate that the security partnership between both countries has expanded in recent months to include intelligence sharing, military support, and joint operations aimed at combating insurgent groups.
In March, the United States reportedly deployed multiple MQ-9 drones alongside about 200 troops to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support in the fight against Islamist militants.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters had earlier announced plans for a series of joint training exercises and intelligence-driven operations involving Nigerian and U.S. forces.
