Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the deputy leader of ISIS globally, has been eliminated in a joint operation by U.S. and Nigerian forces in northeastern Africa, as confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The strike was first announced by Trump in a post on the social platform Truth Social late Friday in the United States, with Tinubu praising the operation as a successful collaboration in the fight against terrorism the following day.
Trump emphasized the precision and complexity of the mission that led to the removal of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who attempted to evade capture in Africa but was exposed by informants. Tinubu’s statement on social media platform X confirmed the elimination of Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, and several of his associates during an attack on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
The Nigerian army, in a separate statement on X, disclosed that the operation took place in Metele, Borno State, with close coordination between Nigerian troops and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Borno State has been grappling with a prolonged insurgency by Boko Haram and its affiliated group, Islamic State West Africa Province, resulting in significant casualties and displacements over the years.
The recent strike, part of Nigeria’s ongoing counter-insurgency campaign, was conducted without any casualties or losses of assets, lasting from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday. Minuki, a Nigerian national, was previously identified as a “specially designated global terrorist” by the administration of former President Joe Biden in 2023, according to the U.S. Federal Register.
Nigeria maintains that its security operations target armed groups irrespective of religion, refuting claims of bias. U.S. military actions against ISIS-affiliated militants in Nigeria date back to December, followed by the deployment of drones and 200 troops to support the Nigerian military with training and intelligence against ISIS and al Qaeda-linked insurgencies in West Africa.
Earlier this year, Nigerian military officials clarified that U.S. forces were strictly engaged in non-combat roles during the operations.