ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally, was killed during a joint military operation involving Nigerian and American forces in the Lake Chad region.
The development was announced in a statement issued by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the operation carried out by the Nigerian Military and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Okay News reports that the operation was conducted after what the ministry described as meticulous planning and coordinated execution between both countries.
“A Joint Operation by the Nigerian Military and the United States Africa Command has killed Abu Bilal Al Minuki, the Second in Command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad Area. The operation was carried out a few hours ago after meticulous planning and successful execution by the Armed Forces of the two Countries,” the statement said.
The ministry alleged that al-Minuki was linked to several recent attacks on military formations in North-East Nigeria.
“Abu Bilal Al Minuki was responsible for some of the recent attacks on Military formations in the North East,” the statement added.
Earlier, United States President Donald Trump also announced the operation in a social media post published in the early hours of Saturday, describing the mission as a major counterterrorism success.
