United States President Donald Trump has announced that American forces, in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, carried out a joint military operation that led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS, globally.

Trump disclosed this in a statement posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, describing the mission as a carefully coordinated operation based on extensive intelligence gathering.

According to the US president, the operation targeted one of ISIS’s most active leaders, accused of coordinating terrorist attacks and supporting extremist activities against Americans and communities across Africa.

He said the operation would significantly weaken ISIS operations globally and reduce the group’s influence on the African continent.

“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.

He added, “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.

“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.”

Trump also commended the Nigerian government and military authorities for their cooperation during the operation.

“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation,” he stated.