Trump said in a post on Truth Social announcing the killing, that “at my direction, brave American forces
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 8, 2026. REUTERS
LAGOS:
A senior Islamic State group leader, described as “the most active terrorist in the world”, has been killed in a joint operation by US and Nigerian forces in the west African country, the two countries’ presidents said.
Under US sanctions since 2023, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was the second-in-command of IS worldwide, according to US President Donald Trump and the two militaries.
The killing comes as IS activity is increasingly concentrated in Africa, hitting a record high of 86 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 49 percent in all of 2024, according to a report by global conflict monitor ACLED released this week.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social announcing the killing, that “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”.
The Nigerian defence forces said al-Minuki was “one of the world’s most active terrorists”.
As director of global operations for IS, al-Minuki provided strategic guidance on media and financial operations and “the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives and drones”, according to the Nigerian military and US Africa Command (AFRICOM).
“Al-Minuki was the most active terrorist in the world and has a significant history of involvement in planning attacks and directing hostage taking,” said AFRICOM.
“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,” Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu said, confirming the killing.
