Nigeria and US strike eliminates senior IS figure in Lake Chad Basin
President Bola Tinubu confirms precision strike killed the militant’s lieutenants, marking a significant escalation in bilateral security cooperation against extremist networks in West Africa.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a senior commander of the Islamic State (IS), during a joint military operation with United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin. The strike, described by the Nigerian Military as a precision operation, resulted in the elimination of al-Minuki and several of his lieutenants at his compound.
The operation was first announced by US President Donald Trump, who characterised al-Minuki as the "second in command of ISIS globally" and "the most active terrorist in the world". Trump stated that the mission, which he termed "flawlessly executed", disrupted IS funding channels and command structures, thanking the Nigerian government for its partnership in the effort.
According to the Nigerian Military, the success of the raid was facilitated by recently formed intelligence-sharing efforts between Abuja and Washington. Al-Minuki had been promoted to the role of "Head of General Directorate of States", placing him among the most senior figures in the global IS hierarchy. Prior to this appointment, he oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities.
Al-Minuki’s history in the region is extensive. A senior commander in Boko Haram, which began its insurgency in northern Nigeria in 2009, he pledged allegiance to IS in 2015 after then-leader Abubakar Shekau posted an audio statement on the group’s social media account. Before joining the IS fold, he was accused of helping move fighters to Libya to support operations in North Africa.
The Nigerian Military linked al-Minuki to the 2018 kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi. Washington had previously designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2023. This latest strike follows increased military cooperation between the two nations, including a joint airstrike in Sokoto state last Christmas and ongoing efforts to combat extremist violence that claimed at least 29 lives in Adamawa state in April.
