President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint military operation conducted by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement personally signed on Saturday, Tinubu described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against terrorism and a demonstration of growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
According to the president, Nigerian troops, working alongside US Armed Forces, executed what he called “a daring joint operation” that inflicted a severe blow on Islamic State fighters operating in the region.
Tinubu disclosed that preliminary intelligence assessments confirmed the death of the wanted terrorist leader alongside several of his lieutenants during an airstrike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
The president said the operation reflected the shared commitment of both countries to dismantling extremist networks threatening stability across West Africa.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” Tinubu stated while expressing gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his support and leadership.
He also commended military personnel from both countries for their professionalism and bravery during the mission, adding that Nigeria would continue to pursue terrorist groups operating across the country.
“I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” the president added.
The development comes as Nigerian security forces intensify military offensives against insurgent groups operating in the North-East and the wider Lake Chad region, where Islamic State-affiliated factions have continued attacks on military facilities and civilian communities.
Trump had earlier announced the operation on his Truth Social platform, describing Al-Manuki as “the most active terrorist in the world” and claiming he served as the “second in command of ISIS globally”.
According to the US president, the militant leader believed he could evade international security forces by hiding in Africa.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki 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 American leader also noted that the slain militant had been sanctioned by the United States government in 2023 over his links to the Islamic State terror network.
Trump said the operation would significantly weaken ISIS operations globally and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in executing the mission.
Security analysts say the joint strike signals deeper military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States as both countries seek to curb the growing influence of extremist groups across the Lake Chad Basin and other parts of West Africa.
