The United States military, in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, has carried out a joint operation that reportedly resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, said to be the global second-in-command of ISIS.
US President Donald Trump made the announcement on Saturday through a statement shared on his Truth Social platform. He explained that the mission was carefully coordinated with intelligence support that monitored the movements and activities of the terrorist leader in Africa.
According to Trump, the operation targeted one of the most active figures within the extremist group, accusing him of organizing attacks and supporting operations against Americans and communities across Africa.
The US president stated that al-Minuki’s death would deal a major blow to ISIS operations worldwide and weaken the group’s influence on the African continent.
Trump also praised the Nigerian government and the armed forces for working closely with the United States during the mission.
Nigeria has recently faced criticism from Trump over insecurity and attacks linked to extremist groups. The US president had previously accused the Nigerian government of not doing enough to protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants, claims that Nigerian authorities rejected.
The country continues to battle violent insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), especially in parts of northern Nigeria.
