President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the elimination of a top-ranking Islamic State (ISIS) leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki (also known as Abu-Mainok), during a high-stakes joint military operation between Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement personally signed on Saturday, President Tinubu described the mission as a “daring joint operation” and a decisive blow against global terrorism.
“Early assessments confirm the elimination of the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound,” the President stated. He characterized the successful mission as a “significant example of effective collaboration” in advancing the security objectives of both nations.
Tinubu extended specific appreciation to U.S. President Donald Trump for his “leadership and unwavering support,” while praising the professionalism and courage of the military personnel involved on both sides.
**‘Most Active Terrorist in the World’**
The operation was also confirmed by President Donald Trump, who took to social media to hail the mission’s success. Trump described Al-Manuki as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and the “most active terrorist in the world.”
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump wrote. “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.”
Al-Manuki, who had been under U.S. sanctions since 2023, was a pivotal figure in ISIS’s global network. His removal is expected to significantly diminish the group’s operational capacity across the continent and beyond.
**Deepening Security Ties**
The development comes at a time of intensified military offensives in the North-East and Lake Chad region, where ISIS-linked factions have long terrorized civilian populations and military formations.
Defense analysts suggest that this successful high-level collaboration signals a new era of intelligence sharing and tactical cooperation between Abuja and Washington. President Tinubu reaffirmed this sentiment, noting that he looks forward to “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.”
The neutralization of Al-Manuki is being regarded by security experts as the most significant victory against the caliphate’s African footprint in recent years.
