United States President, Donald Trump, has claimed that American forces, alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, carried out a joint operation that killed a senior ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki.
In a statement posted on his social media handle on Friday, Trump said the operation targeted al-Minuki, who he described as the second in command of ISIS globally.
Trump, who described the mission as meticulously planned and complex, said the terror suspect would no longer terrorise the people of Africa.
“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 said.
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He further claimed that intelligence sources had monitored the activities of the ISIS leader before the operation was carried out.
Trump said the killing of the suspect would weaken ISIS operations globally and reduce threats against Americans and people across Africa.
He also thanked the Nigerian government for what he described as its partnership in the operation.
“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 terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished. Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation.
“GOD BLESS AMERICA!
President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.
According to the US Federal Register, Al-Minuki was listed as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the administration of former US President Joe Biden in 2023, over links to the Islamic State group.
Donald Trump had in 2025 accused Nigeria of genocide against Christians, a claim the government firmly rejected.
Subsequently, the United States redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and threatened to cut aid to the country.
In response, the Nigerian government dispatched delegations to the US for diplomatic engagements.
Following the talks, officials announced that both countries had reached a bilateral understanding aimed at strengthening efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria.
Trump later claimed that US operations had resulted in the killing of terrorists in Nigeria.
However, residents of Tangaza and Tambuwal local government areas of Sokoto State, where the explosions were reportedly heard, said the communities were the safest when compared to other locations in the North West.
