WASHINGTON (AP), President Donald Trump announced Friday that American and Nigerian forces killed Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, a senior Islamic State figure described as the group’s global second in command, in a joint counterterrorism mission.
Trump called the operation “meticulously planned and very complex,” praising Nigeria’s cooperation. He said al‑Minuki was “the most active terrorist in the world,” and that his death would weaken ISIS’s ability to coordinate attacks across Africa and beyond.
Al‑Minuki, a Nigerian national born in Borno State in 1982, rose through the ranks of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the faction that split from Boko Haram in 2016. He later became part of ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, the body that oversees regional branches and channels funding worldwide. The U.S. State Department designated him a global terrorist in 2023, accusing him of directing fighters in the Lake Chad region and managing financial flows to ISIS affiliates.
For ordinary readers, analysts often compare his role to that of a regional manager in a multinational company but for ISIS, He was not the top boss, but he ensured money, orders, and fighters moved smoothly between Africa and ISIS’s global network. That made him a critical link in keeping the group alive outside the Middle East.
Nigeria has struggled with overlapping security threats from ISIS affiliates, Boko Haram insurgents, and armed bandit groups. Al‑Minuki’s death could disrupt ISIS’s command structure in Africa, but experts caution that extremist groups often adapt quickly by decentralizing operations.
International reaction is expected to be cautious. Counterterrorism experts say the strike is a setback for ISIS but not a final blow. Human rights organizations may raise concerns about transparency and civilian safety in such missions.
Globally, the operation underscores the continuing reach of ISIS despite the death of its former leader Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi in 2019. It also highlights West Africa’s growing importance in the fight against terrorism, with U.S. and regional forces increasingly focused on preventing the region from becoming a safe haven for extremist groups.
