US President Donald Trump announced that American and Nigerian forces jointly eliminated alleged ISIS second-in-command
May 16, 2026: Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, an alleged senior operative of Islamic State, was reportedly killed in a joint military operation conducted by the United States and Nigeria. Announcing the development on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said American forces, working alongside Nigerian armed forces, carried out a “meticulously planned” mission to eliminate what he described as “the most active terrorist in the world.” Trump claimed Al-Minuki, believed to be the global second-in-command of ISIS, had been hiding in Africa before being tracked through intelligence sources.
According to reports, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was also known by aliases including Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, Abubakar Mainok and Abor Mainok. He was believed to be a Nigerian national operating mainly in the Sahel region of Africa and served as a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He reportedly directed operations for the Lake Chad division of ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces. The Sahel region stretches across several African countries, including Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Niger and Sudan, and has become a major hotspot for extremist violence in recent years.
The US State Department designated Al-Minuki as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June 2023 during the administration of Joe Biden. US authorities accused him of coordinating international funding and operational support for ISIS-linked terror cells across Africa. Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission. Nigeria has long battled Islamist militant groups in the region and has repeatedly denied allegations of discrimination against Christians, stating that its security forces target armed groups regardless of religion.