Senior IS leader killed in joint operation, US and Nigeria say

The Nigerian military has increased cooperation with the US in efforts to combat extremist violence (file photo) Nigeria and the United States say they have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in a joint-operation. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described by US President Donald Trump as the "second in command of ISIS globally" and "the most active terrorist in the world". IS has radically shifted in recent years, with around 90% of its attacks now taking place in sub-Saharan Africa.

Its Nigeria-based branch is by far the most active. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said the two countries had carried out a "daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow" to IS. Al‑Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023. He was killed along with "several of his lieutenants" during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, a huge region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. A military spokesman said intelligence had established Minuki had established a fortified base in the area - in Metele, Borno state. The Lake Chad basin has long been a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap). The Nigerian military said the operation began shortly after midnight on Saturday, after months of intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. It said "zero casualties or loss of assets" were recorded, describing the operation as evidence of growing cooperation between Nigerian and US forces. It said that al-Minuki had been promoted to "Head of General Directorate of States", making him one of the most senior figures within the global IS hierarchy. He previously oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities. The military also linked al-Minuki to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping when more than 100 girls from a boarding school in north-eastern Nigeria were taken by militant group Boko Haram. Before pledging allegiance to IS in 2015, he was described as a senior Boko Haram commander.

Key points

• Its Nigeria-based branch is by far the most active.
• Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said the two countries had carried out a "daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow" to IS.
• Al‑Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023.
• He was killed along with "several of his lieutenants" during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, a huge region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
• A military spokesman said intelligence had established Minuki had established a fortified base in the area - in Metele, Borno state.