By Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Nigeria has announced the elimination of a senior islamic State (IS) commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint counterterrorism operation conducted by Nigerian and United States forces
In a statement issued on Saturday morning, Tinubu said the operation was carried out overnight in the Lake Chad Basin.
Tinubu described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region.
According to the statement, the president appreciated the partnership with the United States in the provision of effective security, “I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort” he added.
The president commended the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in advancing shared security objectives
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation” the statement reads
On May 15, 2026, U.S President Donald Trump posted on X about the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS globally, calling him the most active terrorist in the world.
He stated that this terrorist hid in Africa ,”but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing. He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is great diminished” he added.
