A senior Islamic State (IS) leader has been killed in a joint operation between the United States and Nigeria.
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki had been described as the global “second in command”, having overseen jihadist operations across sub-Saharan Africa as part of IS. He was a senior Boko Haram commander beforehand.
Al-Minuki was linked with the kidnapping of 100 schoolgirls from Dapchi in 2018. Leah Sharibu is the last to be held captive by jihadists, because she refuses to renounce her Christian faith. She spent her 23rd birthday in captivity last week.
American troops have been working more closely with Nigerian forces, in an effort to address increasing attacks by jihadists on vulnerable groups including Christians.
Representative Riley Moore, Republican of West Virginia, welcomed the operation in a post on X: “President Trump is laser focused on defending our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria against the slaughter and martyrdom they’ve faced at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists.
“The strike on Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS #2 globally, sends a clear message: those who target innocent Christians will be hunted down and brought to justice. Do not test President Trump’s resolve”, he posted.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called the weekend’s operation “daring” and a “heavy blow” to IS.