Joint Nigeria-US Operation Kills ISIL Deputy Leader in West Africa

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and his US counterpart Donald Trump on May 16 confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the deputy leader of the Islamic State (ISIL) in West Africa.

Trump made the first announcement on social media on May 15, though he did not specify when or where the joint military operation by Nigeria and the United States took place. A day later, President Tinubu issued a statement saying al-Minuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, was eliminated along with several associates in an airstrike targeting his base in the Lake Chad Basin region.

According to the Nigerian military, the operation was described as "a precisely planned, meticulously executed, and highly complex air-ground combined assault," conducted from midnight to 4 a.m. on May 16 in Metele, Borno state, northeastern Nigeria. Borno has long been the epicenter of campaigns by the armed group Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is affiliated with ISIL.

Background of al-Minuki

Very little public information exists about al-Minuki, who had been under US sanctions since 2023. The Nigerian military said that before pledging allegiance to ISIL in 2015, al-Minuki was a prominent commander within Boko Haram.

The Nigerian military described him as a "key" tactical and strategic figure who provided guidance to ISIL entities outside Nigeria on media operations, economic warfare, and weapons manufacturing. "His death has removed a critical link through which ISIL coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world," the military stated.

Nigerian officials also said al-Minuki oversaw ISIL-related operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks on ethnic and religious minority communities. In 2018, he was allegedly involved in the abduction of more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state, northeastern Nigeria.

Impact of the killing

Al-Minuki is believed to have risen through ISWAP's ranks after veteran commander Mamman Nur disappeared in 2018. His reported ability to operate discreetly and avoid public attention helped him maintain influence over operations while evading detection by regional and international security forces.

However, experts caution that eliminating a single commander may have limited impact. Cheta Nwanze, managing director of Lagos-based consulting firm SBM Intelligence, noted that al-Minuki had previously been reported killed in 2024 following a military operation in Kaduna state. "That earlier claim did not lead to a lasting decline in ISWAP's capabilities. Removing a single commander will likely have limited effect," Nwanze said.

The expert warned that the group can recover as long as Nigeria's "ransom economy" remains intact—which, according to an SBM Intelligence report, generated approximately $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025. He added: "The ultimate tool of control is the man with a gun on the ground, and the ultimate support for that man is a functioning social contract—which Nigeria sadly lacks. Until the economic logic that sustains these groups is broken, the vicious cycle will continue."

Alex Vines, director of the Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, assessed that al-Minuki's killing will affect ISWAP operations in the short term, but the group has demonstrated resilience in the face of leadership losses, indicating that the elimination will not be strategically decisive.

Security context and cooperation

ISWAP has recently intensified attacks along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, targeting military posts and humanitarian convoys. These operations are seen as part of an effort to consolidate territory and demonstrate the group's continued presence despite increasing pressure.

For the United States, the removal of al-Minuki is viewed as a victory in the fight against the ISIL network in Africa. In recent months, dozens of US soldiers have been deployed to Nigeria to provide combat support through intelligence sharing and technical assistance.

President Tinubu expressed Nigeria's "appreciation" for the partnership with the United States "in advancing our shared security objectives" and looked forward to "more decisive blows against all terrorist strongholds across the country." However, some analysts suggest that the joint nature of the attack signals deeper US-Nigeria security cooperation, but that cooperation will have limits.

Mubarak Aliyu, a political and security risk analyst, called the elimination of al-Minuki "a notable tactical success" but stressed that "broader governance reforms remain foundational to addressing long-term security challenges in the region."