The killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a joint operation by Nigerian and United States forces has been described by the Defence Headquarters as a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.
According to the DHQ, al-Minuki was one of the most senior and influential figures within the global ISIS network. He was reportedly responsible for overseeing weapons manufacturing, drone development, media operations and economic warfare for the terrorist organisation.
U.S. President, Donald Trump, confirmed the operation on Saturday, describing al-Minuki as “the most active terrorist in the world” and the “second in command of ISIS globally”.
The Defence Headquarters, through its Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the operation was meticulously planned and successfully carried out through cooperation between Nigerian and American forces.
Military intelligence assessments suggest that al-Minuki may recently have been elevated to Head of the ISIS General Directorate of States, a position believed to place him as the second most senior leader within ISIS worldwide.
Before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, al-Minuki was reportedly a prominent Boko Haram commander. Authorities also linked him to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping and several attacks on civilians and military formations across the north-east.
The DHQ further stated that al-Minuki maintained operational ties across West Africa and the Sahel, while also facilitating the movement of fighters to Libya in support of ISIS operations in North Africa.
The military described the development as a significant victory in ongoing counterterrorism operations across Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.
