Isaac Samuel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the killing of senior Islamic State leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces.
In a statement issued on Saturday from the State House, Tinubu described the operation as a major success in the ongoing fight against terrorism and a demonstration of effective security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
According to the President, Nigerian Armed Forces, working alongside US troops, carried out a coordinated strike on the terrorist leader’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
“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 said.
Tinubu said the operation dealt “a heavy blow” to the ranks of the Islamic State and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups operating within and around the country.
The President also expressed appreciation to the United States government for its support and cooperation in advancing shared security objectives.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” Tinubu stated.
He commended personnel of both countries involved in the mission for their “professionalism and courage,” adding that Nigeria looks forward to “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.”
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had announced the killing of the ISIS commander in a post on Truth Social, describing the operation as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission.”
The Lake Chad Basin has remained a major hotspot for insurgent activities involving Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with regional forces intensifying operations against terrorist groups in recent years.
