President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the elimination of wanted ISIS senior leader Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki in a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States military.
The President also commended United States President Donald Trump for his leadership and support in the operation, while praising military personnel from both countries for what he described as their professionalism and courage.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Tinubu described the operation as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against terrorism and said he expects more coordinated strikes against terrorist strongholds across the country.
The statement read: “Overnight, Nigeria and the United States recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.
“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State.
“Early assessments confirm the elimination of the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.”
The operation marks one of the most significant joint military actions between Nigeria and the United States in recent years, underscoring deepening security cooperation between both nations in tackling extremist threats operating within the region.
The elimination of Al-Manuki, who was reportedly a key operational commander within the Islamic State network in West Africa, is expected to significantly weaken terrorist activities around the Lake Chad region.
Security analysts believe the strike could disrupt ongoing extremist coordination across parts of northeastern Nigeria and neighboring countries affected by insurgent violence.
What You Should Know
The killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki represents a major counterterrorism victory for Nigeria and its international security partners.
The Lake Chad Basin has remained a strategic hideout for terrorist groups linked to ISIS and other extremist factions for years. Joint military operations of this scale signal stronger intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
While the development may weaken insurgent command structures temporarily, experts warn that sustained military pressure, regional cooperation, and local stabilization efforts remain crucial to preventing regrouping by extremist cells across the Northeast and broader West African sub-region.
