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The killing of the Islamic State’s global second-in-command in a joint US-Nigeria operation “cannot be the final act,” a United States congressman has warned, as he called for continued action against terror threats targeting Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Representative Riley M. Moore, in a post on X addressed to President Donald Trump, praised the strike that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki but insisted that more must be done.
“This cannot be the final act though,” Moore wrote.
The congressman said, “the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian and religious persecution crises.”
Moore thanked Trump for “keeping your promise to protect persecuted Christians in Nigeria” and for taking “decisive action” against al-Minuki, whom he described as the number two in command of ISIS globally.
The eliminated terrorist leader was responsible for “overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage-taking and managing financial operations, and other ISIS leaders,” Moore said.
“These men were directly responsible for the horrific violence and martyrdom of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” he wrote.
Successful Joint Ops that Eliminated Abu-Bilal al Minuki https://t.co/I6MlCd9OTH
— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DHQNigeria) May 16, 2026
Moore said the strikes would help disrupt “the long-suspected flows of arms and other support from bad actors through ISIS networks down to the Middle Belt.”
“We must continue to resolutely defend our innocent brothers and sisters in Christ from genocidal, radical Islamic terrorists,” he added.
The congressman expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for “swiftly and successfully carrying out its Counterterrorism Strategy for Nigeria” and thanked the Nigerian government and armed forces for their coordination with the United States Africa Command.
Al-Minuki was killed on May 16, 2026, in a precision strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin. The operation was conducted by Nigerian troops of Operation HADIN KAI in close coordination with US Africa Command.
Thank you, President Trump, for keeping your promise to protect persecuted Christians in Nigeria and for taking decisive action against Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the number two in command of ISIS globally who was responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, directing… https://t.co/ZXfoAOxJzo
— Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) May 16, 2026
