Trump claims Islamic State ‘second in command’ killed by US and Nigerian forces

Trump claims Islamic State ‘second in command’ killed by US and Nigerian forces
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Donald Trump has claimed US and Nigerian forces killed the “second in command” global leader of the Islamic State.

Al-Minuki had been placed under US sanctions in 2023 for ties to the Islamic State group.

Trump thanked the government of Nigeria for its “partnership” on the operation, while not disclosing exactly where it took place.

Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national, was designated as a “specially designated global terrorist” by the former Biden administration in 2023, according to the US federal register.

Trump has previously accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the north-west.

Nigeria denies discriminating against any religion, saying its security forces target armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.

The US carried out strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria in December. Since then, Washington has deployed drones and 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the Nigerian military against Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked insurgencies that are spreading across west Africa.