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 Defence Headquarters, in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, described Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as one of the world’s most active terrorists.

Uba said the terrorist leader was killed during a “meticulously planned and highly coordinated” precision operation.

According to the DHQ, al-Minuki served as a strategic figure within the ISIS global network, providing guidance to ISIS entities outside Nigeria on economic warfare, media operations, and the development of weapons, explosives and drones.

“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,” Uba said.

“His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world.”

The DHQ added that intelligence assessments indicated that al-Minuki may have been elevated in February 2026 to Head of the ISIS General Directorate of States, making him the second most senior leader within the terrorist organisation’s global hierarchy.

“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 stated.

The military explained that al-Minuki’s rise within global jihadist networks spanned more than a decade.

According to the DHQ, before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, al-Minuki was a prominent leader within Boko Haram.

Uba said the terrorist commander also maintained operational ties with ISIS-West Africa and was linked to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction.

“The terrorist leader also maintained longstanding operational ties with ISIS-West Africa and was linked to the 2018 Dapchi kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls,” he said.

He added that intelligence records showed al-Minuki facilitated the movement of fighters to Libya between 2015 and early 2016 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,” Uba added.

The Defence Headquarters described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.

“His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world,” the DHQ stated.