US claims killing of senior ISIS leader in Nigeria operation

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, was killed in a joint operation involving US forces and the Nigerian military.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was carried out “at my direction” and involved what he called a “meticulously planned and very complex mission” targeting one of the most active terrorist figures operating in Africa. He stated that the militant believed he could evade capture by hiding in the region, but US intelligence sources had tracked his movements.

Trump thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the operation, highlighting joint efforts in counter terrorism between the two countries. The Nigerian military has not independently confirmed full operational details at the time of the announcement.

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The statement comes amid ongoing security concerns in West Africa, where extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda have continued to carry out attacks, particularly in Nigeria’s northern and northwestern regions. These groups have exploited weak governance, local conflicts, and porous borders to expand their influence.

Tensions between Washington and Abuja have also been in the spotlight in recent months. Earlier, Trump criticised Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, an accusation the Nigerian government strongly rejected. The US had also conducted strikes on suspected militant positions in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, following heightened rhetoric on security threats in the region.

While the US has frequently announced targeted killings of high-value militant leaders, independent verification of such operations is often limited due to the remote nature of the regions involved and the secrecy surrounding special operations missions.

If confirmed, the reported elimination of Abu Bilal al-Minuki would mark a significant development in ongoing counter terrorism efforts in West Africa, though analysts caution that such groups often maintain decentralised structures that allow them to continue operations even after leadership losses.