Residents inspect the damage after US forces had launched a strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, Dec 26, 2025. (File photo: Reuters/Abdullahi Dare Akogun)

Trump says ISIS second in command eliminated

He also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the operation.

· CNA · Join

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (May 15) that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, had been eliminated in an operation conducted by US and Nigerian forces.

"Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the operation.

Nigeria had earlier come under scrutiny from Trump who had said that Christians there were being persecuted, which the African nation's government denies.

The US had struck what it said were Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, following Trump's accusations.

Source: Reuters/ss

Sign up for our newsletters

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Subscribe here

Get the CNA app

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Download here

Get WhatsApp alerts

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

Join here