By Ayo Kehinde
United States President, Donald Trump, has announced that American and Nigerian forces carried out a successful counterterrorism operation that reportedly eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally.
Trump announced on Friday in a statement posted on social media, where he praised the operation as a breakthrough in the global fight against terrorism and commended Nigeria for partnering with the United States in the mission.
According to the US President, the operation was carefully planned and executed after intelligence operatives tracked the ISIS leader to a hideout in 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 wrote.
He identified the slain terrorist figure as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as ISIS’s global deputy leader and one of the most dangerous extremist commanders operating across Africa.
“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,” the US President added.
Trump said the operation would significantly weaken ISIS’s global operational capacity and reduce threats against both African communities and American interests.
“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,” he stated.
The US President also thanked the Nigerian government and security forces for their cooperation during the operation.
“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian government and Defence Headquarters had yet to officially release operational details surrounding the mission, including the precise location where the operation occurred or whether additional insurgents were killed.
The Islamic State extremist group also had not commented on Trump’s claim.
The reported operation underscores growing military and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorism and violent extremism across West Africa and the Sahel region.
Nigeria has spent years battling insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated factions, particularly in the North-East, where thousands of lives have been lost and millions displaced due to prolonged violence.
Trump’s announcement comes months after he publicly criticised Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, claims consistently denied by the Nigerian government.
The United States had also confirmed strikes on suspected Islamist targets in north-western Nigeria during the Christmas period last year amid heightened concerns over extremist activities.
