Nigeria and the United States announced that they have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in a joint-operation.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described by US President Donald Trump as the second in command of ISIS globally and the most active terrorist in the world.
In recent years, IS has radically shifted its focus, with around 90% of its attacks now occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, with the Nigeria-based branch emerging as the most active.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu commented that the joint operation was a significant strike against IS.
Al-Minuki was previously declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US in 2023.
He was killed, along with several of his lieutenants, during an assault on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin—a notorious region for Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap).
The operation, which commenced shortly after midnight on Saturday, resulted in zero casualties or loss of assets, demonstrating the strengthening cooperation between US and Nigerian military forces.
Al-Minuki had gained notoriety by overseeing IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities. He was previously linked to the notorious 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping.
His elimination is anticipated to disrupt IS's operational capabilities within Africa and impact its global funding channels and command structures.
Alongside growing military partnerships, President Trump acknowledged Nigeria's efforts in combating extremism, despite earlier critiques regarding security measures for vulnerable communities.
In April, IS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack that killed at least 29 individuals in Adamawa state, highlighting the ongoing threat of extremism in the region.
