U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS, was eliminated in an operation conducted by American and Nigerian forces.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: '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. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.'
Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership in the operation.
Nigeria had earlier come under scrutiny from Trump over alleged persecution of Christians, which the African nation denies.
The U.S. had struck what it said were Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, following Trump's accusations.
