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Joint strike eliminates high-ranking IS commander
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed that a coordinated operation with the United States successfully targeted and killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a top Islamic State (IS) figure, in the Lake Chad Basin region.
Al-Minuki's role and designation
Al-Minuki, designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. in 2023, was described by former U.S. President Donald Trump as the "second in command of ISIS globally." Nigerian military officials stated he had recently been promoted to "Head of General Directorate of States," positioning him among the highest-ranking leaders in the IS hierarchy.
Prior to this role, he oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks on civilians and minority communities. Authorities also linked him to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping, where over 100 girls were abducted by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria.
Operation details and background
The Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with U.S. forces, conducted the precision strike on al-Minuki's compound. The operation was enabled by enhanced intelligence-sharing under a recently formed U.S.-Nigeria partnership.
Military spokesperson Samali Uba revealed that al-Minuki had previously facilitated the movement of fighters to Libya to support IS operations in North Africa. Before pledging allegiance to IS in 2015, he served as a senior commander in Boko Haram.
Reactions and strategic impact
Trump, writing on Truth Social, called the mission "flawlessly executed" and stated it had eliminated "the most active terrorist in the world." He emphasized that al-Minuki would "no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans."
"Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State."
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu
Tinubu highlighted that the strike also killed several of al-Minuki's lieutenants, further disrupting IS's command structure and funding channels.
Broader context of U.S.-Nigeria cooperation
The operation underscores deepening military ties between Nigeria and the U.S. as Nigeria intensifies efforts to combat extremist violence. In April, IS claimed responsibility for an attack on a football pitch in northeastern Adamawa state that left at least 29 dead. Last December, the two nations conducted a joint airstrike in Sokoto state targeting IS-affiliated groups.
The death of al-Minuki follows the 2019 killing of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, marking another significant setback for the group.
