Donald Trump has announced that American and Nigerian forces killed a senior leader of the Islamic State group during a military operation in Africa.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the joint mission successfully eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world.”

Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, had been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States in 2023.

According to U.S. officials, he played a major role in directing Islamic State-linked operations across Africa, particularly through the group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The organization has expanded its presence across the Lake Chad Basin and parts of the Sahel region, including connections to militant networks operating in Niger, Chad, and Mali.

The Nigerian military has not yet officially confirmed details of the reported raid, while the BBC said it had contacted both U.S. and Nigerian authorities for additional comment.

If confirmed, the killing would represent another major blow to the Islamic State group following the death of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019.

Security analysts say extremist organizations linked to ISIS continue to pose significant threats across parts of Africa despite years of international military operations targeting their leadership structures.

The United States has increasingly partnered with African governments to combat militant groups operating across unstable regions where insurgent violence, terrorism, and cross-border attacks have intensified in recent years.

The reported operation also highlights growing international concern about the spread of ISIS-affiliated groups beyond the Middle East into Africa’s Sahel and West African regions.

Further details regarding the operation, including its exact location and timeline, have not yet been publicly released.