Following the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS, by a joint operation between American forces and the Nigerian military, former Senator Shehu Sani has called for sustained and intensified counter-terrorism campaigns. While praising the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States, Sani emphasized that the fight is far from over.
In a statement on his X account Saturday, Sani described the partnership as laudable and a significant step forward. However, he warned that terrorists thrive on violence and urged authorities to continue pressing the offensive. “Terrorists live by the sword,” he said, indicating that only relentless action can effectively degrade their capabilities.
The operation, announced by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, resulted from extensive intelligence sharing and coordinated strategic planning. Trump identified al-Minuki as a key ISIS figure responsible for orchestrating attacks against Americans and African communities, and noted that his death will severely weaken the terror group’s influence in Africa and beyond.
Trump also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government and military for their cooperation during the mission, which he said dealt a major blow to ISIS’s global network.