Trump says U.S. kills Islamic State leader in Nigeria
President Trump announced Friday evening that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader in the Islamic State group.
Updated on: May 16, 2026 / 12:43 AM EDT / CBS News
Mr. Trump described al-Minuki as the Islamic State's second-in-command globally and "the most active terrorist in the world."
"He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. "With his removal, ISIS's global operation is greatly diminished."
A native of Nigeria, al-Minuki was described by the U.S. State Department in 2023 as a leader of the Islamic State, or ISIS , i n Africa's Sahel region. At the time, he served as a senior official in one of the Islamic State's General Directorate of Provinces offices, which "provide operational guidance and funding around the world," according to the State Department.
He was placed on the Treasury Department's specially designated global terrorist list in 2023, hitting him with steep sanctions.