By Gideon Maxwell
May 16, 2026
United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has announced that U.S. forces, working alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, carried out a coordinated operation that killed Abu Bilal al Minuki, described as one of the most senior ISIS figures globally.
In a statement released after the operation, Hegseth said, “Last night U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed Abu Bilal al Minuki and other ISIS leaders.”
He disclosed that the operation followed months of surveillance and tracking after President Donald Trump directed the Department of War to prepare action against ISIS elements accused of targeting Christians in Nigeria.
“Back in November 2025, President Trump declared to the world that we will help protect Christians in Nigeria and instructed the Department of War to prepare for action,” Hegseth stated.
“So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him, and his entire posse,” he added.
According to Hegseth, the operation was conducted in collaboration with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and supervised by U.S. Africa Command.
“In conjunction with Nigeria’s President, and at the direction of President Trump, U.S. Africa Command oversaw a precise operation to remove this terrorist,” he said.
Hegseth described Abu Bilal al Minuki as the “senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir,” claiming he was effectively the number two figure in ISIS globally.
He said the slain militant was responsible for “overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage taking and managing financial operations.”
“The removal of him and other ISIS personnel makes Americans safer by further degrading ISIS’s ability to plan and carry out attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, American citizens, and innocent civilians,” Hegseth said.
The U.S. Secretary of War further praised the operation as evidence of the capability of American troops and allied partners in combating terrorism.
“Operations like last night’s demonstrate the exceptional lethality, patience and skill of U.S. forces, amplified alongside willing and capable partners, to address shared threats,” he stated.
He also issued a warning to extremist groups, declaring, “This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are.”
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The Nigerian Presidency subsequently confirmed the operation in a State House statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, conveying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s position on the joint strike.
According to the statement, President Tinubu described the overnight mission as “a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” noting that Nigerian troops worked “closely with the Armed Forces of the United States” in carrying out what he called “a daring joint operation” against Islamic State elements.
The Presidency said early assessments confirmed the killing of “the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok,” alongside several of his lieutenants during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
President Tinubu, through the statement, expressed appreciation to the United States for the security partnership, stating, “Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives.”
He also thanked President Donald Trump “for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.”
The President further commended military personnel from both countries for their conduct during the operation.
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” the statement added.
