Senior IS leader killed by US and Nigerian forces

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a joint operation with the US and Nigerian Armed Forces. President Bola Tinubu said, "Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State." The strike occurred on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, and "several of his lieutenants" were also killed.

Donald Trump described Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as the "second in command of ISIS globally" and "the most active terrorist in the world". Al-Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023. The Nigerian Military said the "precision operation" was made possible through the "recently formed US-Nigeria partnership and intelligence sharing efforts." Al-Minuki had been promoted to "Head of General Directorate of States". He oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities. The military also linked al-Minuki to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping when more than 100 girls from a boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria were taken by militant group Boko Haram. Before pledging allegiance to IS in 2015, he was described as a senior Boko Haram commander.

Trump described al-Minuki's 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