Makuochi Okafor,West Africa reporter, Lagosand Yang Tian
AFP via Getty Images
US President Donald Trump says that American and Nigerian forces have killed the "second in command of ISIS globally" in a military operation in Africa.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the joint mission was "flawlessly executed... to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world", Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Al‑Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023.
The Nigerian military has not yet commented on the raid. If confirmed, his killing could mark another significant setback for Islamic State group (IS) following the killing of its leader Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi in 2019.
The BBC has contacted the US government and Nigerian authorities for comment.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al‑Mainuki, directed IS‑linked cells across Africa, particularly the Islamic State West Africa Province, which has entrenched itself in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel, with cross‑border links into Niger, Chad, and Mali.
Trump's message did not provide further details of the operation or the timeline of the joint mission.
Trump describes his death as a major blow to IS's African and global networks, disrupting funding channels and command structures.
The US president thanked the Nigerian government for their "partnership", adding that Minuki "will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans".
Nigeria and the US have increased military cooperation as the country ramps up efforts to fight extremist violence.
In April, IS claimed responsibility after gunmen killed at least 29 people at a football pitch in Nigeria's north-eastern Adamawa state.
Last Christmas, US and Nigeria carried out a joint airstrike in Nigeria's Sokoto state targeting IS-linked groups.
