United States President, Donald Trump, has announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS), has been killed during a joint military operation carried out in Nigeria.
Trump disclosed this in a social media post early Saturday, stating that the operation was executed by American forces alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“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, “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.
“He will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.”
The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, describing the operation as a product of strong bilateral partnership.
Nigeria recently strengthened military cooperation with the United States following Washington’s re-designation of the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
As part of the security partnership, the US reportedly deployed multiple MQ-9 drones and about 200 personnel to Nigeria in March to provide intelligence support and training for Nigerian troops combating Islamist militants.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier confirmed that both countries would conduct joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism operations.
The latest development marks another high-profile US military engagement linked to Nigeria’s anti-terror efforts.
Last year, American intelligence aircraft began surveillance flights over parts of Nigerian territory, while missile strikes were launched on suspected terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Authorities later clarified that explosions reported in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states were linked to precision-guided munitions used during anti-terror operations.
