U.S. and Nigerian Forces Kill ISIS Second-In-Command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in Borno

U.S. and Nigerian forces carried out a joint operation in northeastern Nigeria that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Donald Trump as “second in command of ISIS globally,” with Nigeria’s president saying the strike took place at a compound in the Lake Chad basin.

“The presidents of Nigeria and the United States have announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIL (ISIS)”

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that the operation killed al-Minuki along with “several of his lieutenants” during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, and said the Nigerian military identified the location as Metele in Borno state.

Al Jazeera

CBC said Trump and Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the killing as a joint effort conducted in the northeast of the African country, with Tinubu calling it a “significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”

The Nigerian army said the operation began at about 12:01 a.m. and concluded at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, and it recorded “no casualties or loss of assets,” according to CBC.

Trump said in a Truth Social post that “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” and he added that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki “thought he could hide in Africa.”

Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a statement posted on X that early assessments confirmed the elimination of Minuki—also known as Abu-Mainok—along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Nigerian army, also on X, said the strike was carried out in Metele in Borno State, where troops carried out a precision air-land operation in close co-ordination with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

AFRICOM said the operation was carried out “at the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War,” and it reported that its initial assessment found that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was among those killed.

Straight Arrow News quoted AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson saying, “This operation underscores the exceptional value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership,” as it described the mission as a major blow to ISIS’s global network.

The operation was described by U.S. and Nigerian authorities as disrupting ISIS’s ability to plan and carry out attacks, with the CBC account saying Tinubu and Trump framed it as a heavy blow to ISIS’s ranks.

“Senior IS leader killed in joint operation, US and Nigeria say Nigeria and the United States say they have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in a joint-operation”

BBC

The BBC said the Lake Chad basin is a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), and it reported that the Nigerian military said the operation was evidence of growing cooperation between Nigerian and US forces.

In the Eastleigh Voice, Nigerian Defence Forces (AFN) Director of Defence Information Major General Samila Ubam said the precision operation followed “confirmed intelligence” that Al‑Minuki and his international terrorist cell had established a concealed and fortified enclave at Metele in Borno State within Sector 3 OPHK.

The Eastleigh Voice also said the operation was conducted during Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), which it said commenced at approximately 1:00 am and concluded around 4:00 am on May 16, and it described the mission as precision air-ground operations with Special Forces deployed to deny escape routes.

NPR reported that Trump announced the joint operation in Africa’s most populous country in a late-night social media post, and it quoted a U.S. official saying the killing was “huge” because it was “the first time a security agency has killed someone this high in the ranking of ISWAP.”