President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a senior Islamic State commander, in a joint counterterrorism operation conducted by Nigerian and United States forces.
In a statement issued on Saturday, President Tinubu described the overnight operation as a major success in the ongoing fight against terrorism in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin region.
The announcement followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who disclosed via his Truth Social platform that the ISIS commander had been eliminated during a coordinated military strike involving “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
US Says ISIS Global Operations “Greatly Diminished”
According to President Trump, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki — also known as Abu-Mainok — was regarded as the Islamic State group’s second-in-command globally and had been operating from Africa while coordinating international terrorist activities.
“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,” Trump stated.
The US president added that the operation had removed “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” arguing that the strike would significantly weaken ISIS’s international operational capacity.
Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its role in the operation, describing the mission as a successful example of bilateral security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.
Tinubu Hails US-Nigeria Security Partnership
Reacting to the development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the mission demonstrated the effectiveness of strategic international cooperation 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,” Tinubu said.
According to the Nigerian president, preliminary intelligence assessments confirmed the elimination of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki and several of his lieutenants during an operation targeting his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
Tinubu praised the professionalism and courage of personnel involved in the operation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to intensifying military pressure on terrorist networks operating across the region.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” Tinubu added.
Lake Chad Basin Remains Key Counterterrorism Frontline
The Lake Chad Basin, which spans parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, remains one of Africa’s most volatile security corridors due to the activities of extremist groups linked to ISIS and Boko Haram.
Security analysts say intensified intelligence-sharing between Nigeria and international allies has become increasingly important in disrupting insurgent financing, logistics and cross-border operations.
The latest operation is expected to strengthen ongoing counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated military operations targeting extremist groups in West Africa.
Strategic Implications for Regional Security
For international observers and business stakeholders, the operation underscores Nigeria’s continued efforts to stabilise key regions affected by insurgency and improve regional security conditions critical for investment and economic activity.
Analysts note that sustained military cooperation between Nigeria and Western allies could help improve security around major trade corridors, energy infrastructure and cross-border commercial routes in the wider Sahel and West African region.
Nigerian authorities say further operations against terrorist enclaves are expected as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle extremist networks operating within and beyond the country’s borders.