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Top IS Leader, others killed in Joint Operation by US-Nigeria Military
By Ola Kay
A senior terrorist leader belonging to the Islamic State, IS, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, has been declared killed in major operation jointly waged by Nigeria and the United States.
Al‑Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023.
He was killed alongside some of his lieutenants. Described by US President Donald Trump as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world,” according to a BBC report.
IS reportedly shifted in recent years, with around 90% of its attacks now taking place in sub-Saharan Africa, while its Nigeria-based offshoot is said to be by far the most active.
President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria and the US carried out a “daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow” to IS.
An end came to his reign during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, a huge region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The report also informed that a military spokesman said intelligence had established Minuki had established a fortified base in the area – in Metele, Borno state.
The Lake Chad basin has long been a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap).
The Nigerian authorities stated that the operation started just after midnight on Saturday, after months of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.
It said the operation “zero casualties or loss of assets” were recorded, describing the joint exercise as evidence of deepening relations between Nigerian and US forces.
The authorities stated that al-Minuki had been promoted to “Head of General Directorate of States”, making him one of the most senior figures within the global IS hierarchy.
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