In a high-precision military operation, the governments of the United States and Nigeria confirmed the elimination of Abu Bilal al Minuki, identified as the second in command worldwide of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
The joint mission took place in the Lake Chad Basin, an area historically affected by jihadist violence on the African continent.
US President Donald Trump reported through his Truth Social platform that the operation was a “meticulously planned mission” executed under his orders.
Trump noted that Al Minuki, born in 1982 in Borno State, Nigeria, was considered one of the world’s most active terrorists before being located by intelligence sources.
Details of the operation on Lake Chad
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed the information on Saturday, calling the intervention a ” bold joint operation ” that dealt a critical blow to the structures of the Islamic State.
According to the official report, the jihadist leader was killed along with several of his lieutenants during a strategic bombing raid against his operational complex.
For his part, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth celebrated the mission’s success via the social network X.
Hegseth emphasized that US forces pursued the terrorist leader for months because of his involvement in direct attacks against Christian communities in the region.
Global impact and regional context
According to Nigerian defense forces, the death of Abu Bilal al Minuki represents the elimination of an “essential link” for the coordination of IS operations in various regions of the planet.
This operation reinforces military cooperation between Washington and Abuja, which has intensified since the end of last year following previous bombings in Sokoto state.
Despite political rhetoric about selective persecution, Nigerian experts and authorities maintain that jihadist violence indiscriminately affects both Christian and Muslim populations.
However, reports from organizations such as ACLED confirm that the Islamic State is increasingly shifting its core activity towards the African continent.
