United States President Donald Trump has announced that American troops working alongside Nigerian forces killed a senior ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, during a joint military operation in Nigeria.
In a statement, Trump described the slain fighter as the extremist group’s “global second-in-command”, calling the operation a major blow against ISIS activities in West Africa.
The US president also praised the Nigerian government and its security forces for their cooperation, thanking Abuja for what he described as a successful partnership in the counterterrorism mission.
While details surrounding the operation, including the exact location and timing, were not immediately disclosed, the announcement is likely to intensify attention on growing security collaboration between the United States and Nigeria in the fight against armed groups operating across the region.
Nigerian authorities have yet to issue a detailed public statement confirming the development.
