Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS, had been killed in a joint operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was conducted under his orders and involved close coordination between US forces and the Nigerian military. He described the mission as highly complex and praised the troops involved for successfully targeting what he called one of the world’s most active terrorists.
Trump said Abu Bilal al-Minuki had attempted to hide in Africa but was tracked through intelligence gathered by US sources. He added that the operation removed a major ISIS figure from the battlefield.
The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and partnership in the counterterrorism mission.
The announcement comes amid continued concerns over militant activity in parts of Africa, where extremist groups linked to ISIS remain active in several regions.
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Trump had previously criticised Nigeria over what he described as persecution of Christians in the country, allegations that Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied.
Last year, the United States also launched strikes on suspected militant targets in northwestern Nigeria following heightened concerns over insecurity and extremist violence.
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No additional operational details were immediately released by either Washington or Abuja regarding the exact location of the raid or the circumstances surrounding al-Minuki’s death.
