Nigeria and the United States have announced the killing of a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in a joint operation. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described by US President Donald Trump as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world.”
IS has radically shifted its operational focus in recent years, with approximately 90% of its attacks now occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Its Nigeria-based branch is notably the most active. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu stated that the two countries conducted a “daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow” to IS.
Targeting a Global Terrorist
Al-Minuki was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023. He was killed alongside “several of his lieutenants” during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, a vast region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. A military spokesman indicated that intelligence had confirmed Minuki established a fortified base in the Metele area of Borno state. The Lake Chad basin has historically been a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The Nigerian military reported that the operation commenced shortly after midnight on Saturday, following months of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. They stated “zero casualties or loss of assets” were recorded, highlighting the operation as evidence of increasing cooperation between Nigerian and US forces.
Al-Minuki’s Role and History
It was also stated that al-Minuki had been promoted to “Head of General Directorate of States,” positioning him as one of the most senior figures within the global IS hierarchy. He previously oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities. The military further linked al-Minuki to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping, where over 100 girls from a boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria were abducted by the militant group Boko Haram.
Before pledging allegiance to IS in 2015, he was described as a senior Boko Haram commander. Boko Haram initiated its military campaign to impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in 2009. The group pledged its allegiance to IS after its then-leader, Abubakar Shekau, reportedly posted an audio statement on Boko Haram’s X account in 2015. Its ultimate aim has been to establish a “caliphate,” a state governed by a single political and religious leader in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki is believed to have originated from Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. Analysts suggest his nickname likely derives from Mainok, a town in the state, consistent with a regional tradition where individuals are identified by their hometowns or family names.
The Nigerian military had previously claimed to have killed him in 2024 but retracted the statement on Saturday, clarifying that it was a different fighter using the same alias. Similar claims have been made regarding other jihadists in the Lake Chad basin, including approximately five instances where they claimed to have killed former Boko Haram leader Abu Bakar Shekau before his death was confirmed in May 2021.
Impact and Future Cooperation
Trump characterized al-Minuki’s death as a significant blow to IS’s African and global networks, disrupting funding channels and command structures. The US president thanked the Nigerian government for their “partnership,” adding that Minuki “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans.”
Nigeria and the US have intensified military cooperation as Nigeria escalates its efforts to combat the extremist insurgency that has afflicted the country for over a decade. This increased cooperation follows earlier comments by President Trump suggesting Nigeria was not doing enough to protect vulnerable groups, including Christian communities – claims consistently denied by Nigerian authorities, who assert that violence in the country affects people regardless of religion or faith.
In April, IS claimed responsibility after gunmen killed at least 29 people at a football pitch in Nigeria’s north-eastern Adamawa state. Last Christmas, the US and Nigeria conducted a joint airstrike in Nigeria’s Sokoto state, targeting IS-linked groups.
Speaking recently at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Tinubu defended Nigeria’s expanding security cooperation with international partners. “Security challenges will always be present; these are issues you cannot tackle alone, you cannot operate in isolation,” he stated. “Even Trump, as bold as he is, is in China, talking about Taiwan. So who am I in Nigeria to say I will do it alone? I must embrace my neighbours. I must pursue pragmatic cooperation and partnerships, which are necessary to enhance the security of lives and property of our people.”
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