President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, in a coordinated military operation involving Nigerian forces and the United States military in the Lake Chad Basin.
The operation, which targeted a known terrorist stronghold in the North-East axis of the Lake Chad region, was described by the President as a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
He said the mission reflected strong international cooperation aimed at weakening extremist networks operating across Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
In a statement he personally signed on Saturday, Bola Tinubu said the success of the operation demonstrated “a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism” between Nigeria and the United States.
According to him, Nigerian troops worked alongside United States forces in what he described as a “daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State.”
He further disclosed that preliminary intelligence confirmed the death of the top ISIS figure along with several of his close associates.
He stated that “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.”
Tinubu commended the military personnel involved in the mission, praising their discipline, coordination, and courage during the operation. He added that the development represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s security objectives, particularly in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
He also expressed appreciation to Washington for its support, saying, “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,” the statement read.
The President added that continued collaboration would remain key in dismantling terrorist enclaves still operating in remote areas of the country. He said, “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 development comes at a time when Nigerian security forces have intensified offensives against insurgent groups operating around the Lake Chad Basin, where factions linked to Islamic State have remained active despite years of military pressure.
The United States government also confirmed the operation. President Donald Trump described the slain commander as one of the most dangerous terror figures currently operating globally.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” he said.
Trump further claimed the ISIS leader had played a key role in global terror operations, noting that he was previously believed to be hiding in Africa while coordinating attacks and supporting extremist cells.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” he said.
He added that the militant, who had been under United States sanctions since 2023 over alleged links to ISIS operations, would no longer pose a threat to civilians or international targets.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump said, while also acknowledging Nigeria’s role in the joint mission.
