The US announces the killing of the deputy leader of ISIS who was hiding in Africa.

President Trump announced that US and Nigerian forces had killed the deputy global leader of ISIS, who was hiding in the African nation.

"At my direction, courageous American forces worked in coordination with the Nigerian military to perfectly execute a very complex, meticulously planned mission to eliminate Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the deputy global leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) organization," President Donald Trump said on May 15.

US leaders described al-Minuki as " the world's most active terrorist." "Abu-Bilal al-Minuki thought he could hide in Africa, but he didn't know that we have constantly updated information on what he's doing," Trump said.

U.S. soldiers participate in training exercises with Nigerian troops north of Jaji in February 2018. Photo: U.S. Army

President Trump asserted that the killing of Al-Minuki significantly reduced the scale of ISIS's global operations. He did not disclose details of the operation targeting Al-Minuki, nor his specific whereabouts.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the military confirmed the information today. "The Nigerian military has worked closely with the US in a bold operation, dealing a heavy blow to the ranks of ISIS," Tinubu said.

In 2023, the US sanctioned Al-Minuki and listed him as a "global terrorist." The US State Department stated at the time that Al-Minuki was a high-ranking IS leader in the Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert, and a member of the organization responsible for directing operations and funding worldwide.

Location of Nigeria and its neighbors. Graphic: AFP

ISIS no longer controls any areas in Syria and Iraq after 2019, but many fighters remain active in the region. In addition, the terrorist organization maintains a significant presence in several areas of West Africa.

The Nigerian army is launching a campaign against armed groups, including the African branch of IS and Boko Haram. Since late last year, the Nigerian government has faced accusations from the US for "not doing enough" to confront Islamist extremists.

In December 2025, the US, in coordination with Nigeria, launched airstrikes in Sokoto State, targeting ISIS positions. The US also deployed hundreds of troops to Nigeria to support and train the local military.

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