President Bola Tinubu on Friday confirmed the killing of a top Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint military operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin. The operation was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist groups operating in the North-East and other parts of the region.
Tinubu made the announcement in a statement released on Saturday, where he described the mission as a successful collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism.
According to the President, troops from both countries carried out a coordinated strike on the hideout of the ISIS commander, leading to his death alongside some of his close associates.
The President said the operation dealt a heavy setback to the activities of the terrorist group and showed the growing cooperation between Nigeria and the United States on security matters. He also praised the military personnel involved for carrying out the mission successfully.
Tinubu appreciated the support of United States President Donald Trump and commended the partnership between both countries in tackling security threats in the Lake Chad region. He added that Nigeria would continue working with international allies to remove terrorist groups threatening lives and communities.
The operation came at a time when Nigerian troops have increased attacks against insurgents in the North-East, especially around the Lake Chad Basin where Islamic State-linked fighters have continued to launch attacks on soldiers and civilians.
Earlier, President Trump also reacted to the operation through a post on Truth Social. He described Al-Manuki as one of the most dangerous terrorist figures in the world and said the operation was carefully planned and successfully executed by American and Nigerian forces.
Trump stated that the slain commander had been under American sanctions since 2023 because of his links to the Islamic State group. He added that the terrorist leader believed he could avoid capture while operating from Africa, but intelligence tracking led security forces to his location.
According to the US President, the death of Al-Manuki would weaken ISIS operations globally and reduce the group’s ability to coordinate attacks. He also thanked the Nigerian government for cooperating with the United States during the mission.
The latest development is expected to strengthen security ties between Nigeria and the United States as both countries continue military efforts against extremist groups operating across West Africa and the Lake Chad region.