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By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Manuki, a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement issued on Saturday, President Tinubu described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against terrorism across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
The announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump revealed on his Truth Social platform that the high-ranking ISIS leader had been killed in a coordinated military strike involving American troops and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Trump described al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, as one of ISIS’ most influential global operatives who had been coordinating terrorist activities from Africa.
“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,” Trump said.
He added that the successful operation had removed “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” noting that the development would significantly weaken ISIS operations internationally.
The US president also commended the Nigerian government and military for their cooperation and commitment to the mission.
Reacting to the development, President Tinubu praised the strong security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States, describing the operation as evidence of the effectiveness of international partnerships in combating terrorism.
“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,” Tinubu stated.
According to the president, preliminary intelligence reports confirmed that al-Manuki and several of his associates were killed during a targeted strike on their hideout within the Lake Chad Basin.
Tinubu commended the professionalism, courage and resilience of the troops involved and reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to sustain military offensives against terrorist groups operating across the region.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” he added.
The Lake Chad Basin, covering parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, has remained a major hotspot for insurgent activities linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Security experts say growing intelligence-sharing and military coordination between Nigeria and its international allies have become increasingly critical in disrupting terrorist financing, logistics and cross-border operations.
The latest operation is expected to deepen counterterrorism cooperation between Abuja and Washington, particularly in intelligence gathering, surveillance and joint military actions against extremist groups in West Africa.