Nigeria and the US have confirmed the killing of senior Islamic State leader Abu-Bilal
Viable News Team 
Image: AbcNews via Carlos Osorio/AP
Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State leader during a joint military operation involving Nigerian and United States forces, marking a significant development in the fight against extremist groups operating across Africa.
The operation targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a high-ranking IS figure whom US officials described as one of the organisation’s most senior global leaders. According to statements from both governments, the strike took place in the Lake Chad Basin region, an area that has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity involving IS-linked factions and Boko Haram militants.
Tinubu praised the coordinated mission, describing it as a major success for the partnership between the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States military. In a public statement, he said the operation dealt a serious blow to the structure and operational capabilities of Islamic State networks in Africa.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the mission, calling it “flawlessly executed” and describing al-Minuki as one of the world’s most active terrorists. Washington had previously designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2023 due to his alleged role in coordinating extremist operations across the Sahel and West Africa.
Military officials said al-Minuki was killed alongside several associates during a strike on his compound. Nigerian authorities claim the operation was made possible through enhanced intelligence sharing and security cooperation between the two countries.
Security analysts believe the killing could significantly disrupt IS operations in the region, particularly in areas around the Lake Chad Basin where insurgent groups have continued to launch attacks on civilians, villages and security forces. The region has faced years of instability linked to militant violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
Nigerian military spokespersons also linked al-Minuki to previous extremist activities, including support for Boko Haram factions and involvement in militant logistics across North Africa. Reports further connected him to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping, which shocked the international community after more than 100 girls were abducted from a school in northeastern Nigeria.
The development comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to combat insurgency through regional cooperation and increased international support. In recent years, both Nigeria and the US have expanded joint counterterrorism operations aimed at weakening extremist networks operating in West Africa.
Despite major setbacks for IS leadership since the death of former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, the group and its affiliates continue to pose a security threat in several regions across Africa and the Middle East.
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