The Defence Headquarters on Saturday said the senior Islamic State leader killed in a joint counterterrorism operation conducted by Nigerian and United States forces was responsible for overseeing the terrorist group’s weapons manufacturing, drone development and global media operations.
The US President, Donald Trump, had earlier confirmed the operation, describing al-Minuki as “the most active terrorist in the world.”
Trump said the slain militant leader, whom he described as the “second in command of ISIS globally,” had believed he could evade capture in Africa.
Confirming the operation, the DHQ, in a statement by its Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, described Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as one of the world’s most active terrorists and noted that he was killed during a “meticulously planned and highly coordinated” precision operation.
Uba said beyond this, al-Minuki served as a critical strategic figure within the ISIS global network, providing guidance to ISIS entities outside Nigeria on economic warfare and media operations, making him one of the group’s most operationally versatile commanders.
According to him, intelligence assessments indicate that, as recently as February 2026, al-Minuki may have been elevated to Head of the ISIS General Directorate of States, positioning him as the second most senior leader within the group’s global hierarchy.
He said, “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was a key ISIS operational and strategic figure who provided guidance to ISIS entities outside Nigeria on matters relating to media operations, economic warfare and the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives and drones. His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world.
“Intelligence further indicates that, as recently as February 2026, Minuki may have been elevated to the position of Head of the General Directorate of States, placing him as the second most senior leader within the ISIS global hierarchy.”
Uba noted that al-Minuki’s rise through the ranks of global jihadist networks spanned more than a decade.
He said before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, al-Minuki was a prominent leader within Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown terrorist organisation.
Uba also said al-Minuki was linked to the 2018 Dapchi kidnapping, in which over 100 schoolgirls were abducted in an attack that drew international condemnation.
He said, “Prior to this, Minuki served in 2023 as the Nigeria-based al-Furqan GDP Office Emir, overseeing ISIS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks against civilians, particularly ethnic and religious minority communities.
“The terrorist leader also maintained longstanding operational ties with ISIS-West Africa and was linked to the 2018 Dapchi kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls. Intelligence records further show that between March 2015 and early 2016, he facilitated the movement of fighters to Libya in support of ISIS operations in North Africa. Before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, Minuki was also recognised as a prominent leader within Boko Haram.”
The DHQ described the operation as a “major breakthrough” in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel region and beyond.
“His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world,” Uba said.
DHQ details slain ISIS Al-Minuki’s decade-long terror network
