United States President, Donald Trump, has announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, during a joint military operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces in Nigeria.
Trump made the announcement on Friday, May 15, 2026, via Truth Social, stating that the operation was carried out under his directive and involved close coordination between U.S. troops and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to the U.S. President, the mission was “meticulously planned” and successfully executed to eliminate what he described as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.
“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 stated.
He added: “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.
“Al-Minuki will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. His removal has greatly diminished ISIS’s global operation.”
Trump also commended the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support during the operation.
The latest operation follows a December 2025 U.S. airstrike in Sokoto State targeting ISIS militants at the request of Nigerian authorities. The United States Africa Command had confirmed that the earlier strike was conducted in coordination with Nigerian security agencies and resulted in the deaths of several militants.
Nigerian officials say the recent operations reflect growing counterterrorism collaboration between both countries, particularly in intelligence sharing and strategic military coordination.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, recently met with U.S. officials in Washington to strengthen security and counterterrorism partnerships between the two nations.
