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 involving 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 reflection of growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
According to the President, Nigerian troops working alongside the US Armed Forces carried out what he described as a “daring joint operation” that dealt a significant blow to the Islamic State network operating within the region.
He said preliminary intelligence reports confirmed that Al-Manuki and several of his lieutenants were eliminated during a targeted strike on his hideout in the Lake Chad Basin.
Tinubu commended the security forces involved in the mission, praising their professionalism and courage.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” the President said.
He also expressed appreciation to Donald Trump for supporting the counterterrorism collaboration between both countries.
The President added that he looked forward to more coordinated offensives against terrorist enclaves across Nigeria.
The development comes amid intensified military operations targeting insurgent groups operating in the North-East and surrounding areas of the Lake Chad region, where extremist factions linked to the Islamic State have continued attacks on communities and military formations.
Reacting to the development, Trump also confirmed the operation in a statement posted on Truth Social, describing Al-Manuki as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump said.
The US president described the slain militant as the “second in command of ISIS globally,” adding that intelligence sources had tracked his activities despite attempts to evade capture in Africa.
Trump noted that Al-Manuki had been sanctioned by the United States in 2023 over alleged links to the Islamic State terrorist network.
According to him, the militant leader would no longer coordinate attacks in Africa or assist in planning operations against American interests.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump stated while also thanking the Nigerian government for its cooperation.
The latest operation underscores increasing military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States as both countries intensify efforts to dismantle extremist networks operating across West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.
