Trump Says Islamic State ‘Second in Command’ Killed in Joint US-Nigerian Operation

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a senior leader of the Islamic State described as the group’s “second in command globally” was killed during a joint military operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria.

According to statements released by President Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the target of the operation was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, a senior Islamic State operative who had been designated a global terrorist by the United States in 2023. (Reuters)

President Trump said the mission was carried out at his direction and described it as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.” In a post on Truth Social, he stated that al-Minuki had believed he could “hide in Africa,” but intelligence sources had tracked his movements. (Reuters)

Operation Conducted in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin

The strike reportedly took place in the Lake Chad Basin region near Metele in Nigeria’s Borno State, an area that has long been affected by insurgent violence involving Boko Haram and Islamic State-affiliated militants. Nigerian authorities said the operation targeted al-Minuki’s compound during a nighttime assault coordinated with U.S. Africa Command. (Reuters)

Nigerian President Tinubu called the mission a “significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.” Early assessments from Nigerian officials indicated that several of al-Minuki’s lieutenants were also killed during the operation. (Reuters)

The Nigerian military reportedly completed the four-hour operation without suffering casualties or losing military assets, according to statements cited by Reuters. (Reuters)

Who Was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki?

Security officials identified Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as a Nigerian national linked to Islamic State operations across West Africa and the Sahel region. U.S. authorities had sanctioned him in 2023 for alleged involvement in financing, logistics, weapons development, and strategic coordination for Islamic State affiliates operating in Africa. (The Washington Post)

Analysts cited by multiple international media organizations described him as a key operational figure within Islamic State networks in the Lake Chad region, although some experts noted there is limited publicly available information regarding the exact structure of the group’s global command hierarchy. (AP News)

President Trump claimed the removal of al-Minuki would significantly weaken Islamic State operations globally, stating that the militant leader would “no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.” (India Today)

Growing US Counterterrorism Presence in Africa

The operation comes amid expanded U.S. counterterrorism involvement in Nigeria and the broader West African region. Recent months have seen increased cooperation between Washington and Abuja, including intelligence sharing, drone support, and military training initiatives aimed at combating extremist groups operating across the Lake Chad Basin. (Reuters)

The United States has previously conducted airstrikes and special operations targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria and neighboring countries. Analysts say the region remains one of the most active theaters for Islamic State affiliates after the group lost most of its territory in Iraq and Syria. (Wikipedia)

Islamic State Yet to Respond

As of Saturday, Islamic State had not officially commented on the reported death of al-Minuki. Independent verification of all operational details has also not yet been publicly released by the Pentagon or U.S. Africa Command.

Counterterrorism experts warned that while the death of a senior commander could disrupt militant planning and coordination in the short term, extremist organizations often maintain decentralized leadership structures that allow them to regroup over time. (AP News)

The development marks one of the most significant joint U.S.-Nigerian counterterrorism operations announced publicly in 2026 and highlights the growing focus on militant activity across West Africa.