President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the killing of senior Islamic State commander Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement released from the State House on Saturday, Tinubu described the overnight operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism and praised the collaboration between both countries.
Tinubu Praises Joint Military Strike
According to the president, the Nigerian Armed Forces worked closely with U.S. military personnel to execute what he described as a daring operation against the terrorist group.
“Overnight, Nigeria and the United States recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism,” Tinubu stated.
“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 also thanked Donald Trump for supporting the operation.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” he added.
Trump Calls Terrorist ‘Most Active In The World’
Trump had earlier confirmed the operation in a statement shared on Truth Social on Friday.
The U.S. president described Al-Manuki as “the most active terrorist in the world” and claimed he was the second-in-command of ISIS globally.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump wrote.
He further stated that the terrorist leader believed he could hide in Africa without detection.
“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.
Renewed Offensive Against Terror Groups
The operation comes amid intensified military offensives against insurgent groups operating across the North-East and Lake Chad region.
Islamic State-linked factions have continued to launch attacks on military formations and civilian communities in the region despite ongoing security operations.
Trump also noted that Al-Manuki had been placed under U.S. sanctions in 2023 because of his links to the Islamic State group.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” he stated.