Trump Announces U.S.-Nigeria Mission Eliminated Top ISIS Commander

President Donald Trump announced late Friday that American forces, working in coordination with Nigerian troops, carried out a successful counterterrorism operation that killed a senior ISIS commander in Africa.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, the president said the mission was conducted under his direction and described it as a highly complex operation executed with precision.

“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump wrote.

President Trump identified the target as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as ISIS’s second-in-command and one of the terror group’s most active operational leaders in Africa.

“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” Trump said.

“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.”

“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

U.S. Africa Command later confirmed the mission and said early assessments indicate that multiple additional ISIS leaders were also killed during the operation.

“As President Trump shared last night, AFRICOM in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, bravely and valiantly conducted a successful mission that resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, and multiple other ISIS leaders,” AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson said.

“This operation underscores the exceptional value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and was made possible through the cooperation and coordination of our forces in recent months,” he added.

“Make no mistake, our two nations will relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats and are committed to protecting our people and interests.”

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also commended the joint operation, calling it a “significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.”

“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,” Tinubu said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the mission as well, connecting the operation to President Trump’s commitment to protecting Christians in Nigeria from extremist violence.

“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 wrote on X.

“So, for months, we hunted this top ISIS leader in Nigeria who was killing Christians, and we killed him—and his entire posse.”

“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 added.

“This should serve as a reminder that we will hunt down those who wish to harm Americans or innocent Christians, wherever they are.”

The strike marks another major counterterrorism victory for the Trump administration in Africa, where ISIS-linked militants and other extremist groups have expanded their presence in recent years.

According to The Hill, President Trump also highlighted a previous U.S. military strike in northwest Nigeria last December, describing it as a “Christmas present” to ISIS after multiple militants were reportedly killed.

In December, U.S. airstrikes against ISIS camps in Nigeria were described by the president as a direct response to attacks on Christians in the country.

“They really got hit hard yesterday,” Trump said on 77 ABC Radio. “They got a bad Christmas gift.”

President Trump said at the time that the strike may have saved “tens, hundreds of thousands” of Christian lives.

The president also pointed to broader national security gains under his administration, including strikes against alleged narco-terrorist boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Trump said those operations have contributed to a 97.2% reduction in drug trafficking.

He also argued that low gasoline prices are functioning like a major tax cut for American families, noting that gas prices in a growing number of states have fallen below $2 per gallon.

The latest operation reinforces President Trump’s America First approach to foreign policy: direct action against terrorists, strong cooperation with willing allies, and an unapologetic commitment to defending Americans and innocent Christians abroad.

For conservatives, the mission is another example of peace through strength. Instead of apologizing for American power or managing terrorism with weak rhetoric, the Trump administration is once again making clear that those who threaten the United States, its allies, or persecuted Christians will be hunted down wherever they hide.