The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that the Nigerian military, in collaboration with United States forces, killed a senior ISIS leader and one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, Abu Bilal al-Minuki, during a recent joint operation.
The military high command said the precision operation was executed under the recently established U.S.-Nigeria counter-terrorism partnership and intelligence-sharing framework, reports The Nation.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier announced the successful elimination of al-Minuki, describing him as the second-in-command of ISIS in the region.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and highly complex mission,” Trump reportedly said.
In a statement issued today, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the killing of al-Minuki had significantly disrupted a violent terrorist network threatening Nigeria and the wider West African region.
“Our efforts represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel region and globally,” the DHQ stated.
According to the military, al-Minuki was a key ISIS operational and strategic figure who provided guidance to ISIS affiliates outside Nigeria on media operations, economic warfare, and the development and production of weapons, explosives, and drones.
“His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world,” the statement added.
The DHQ further disclosed that intelligence reports indicated that, as recently as February 2026, al-Minuki may have been elevated to Head of the General Directorate of States, making him the second most senior figure within the ISIS global hierarchy.
It noted that, in 2023, he served as the Nigeria-based Emir of the al-Furqan GDP Office, where he oversaw ISIS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians, particularly ethnic and religious minority communities.
The military also linked al-Minuki to the 2018 Dapchi abduction of more than 100 schoolgirls and said he maintained longstanding operational ties with ISIS-West Africa.
According to the DHQ, intelligence records showed that between March 2015 and early 2016, he facilitated the movement of fighters to Libya in support of ISIS operations in North Africa.
Before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, al-Minuki was reportedly a prominent commander within Boko Haram.
The military high command commended the gallantry, professionalism, and dedication of personnel involved in the operation and appreciated the continued support and partnership of United States forces in the fight against terrorism.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain steadfast in ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure, protecting civilians, and ensuring lasting peace and stability across the nation and the wider region,” the statement added.
