President Bola Tinubu has confirmed that a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, has been killed in a coordinated counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
The President, in a statement on Saturday, said the successful operation was executed overnight as part of ongoing joint efforts between both countries to weaken terrorist networks operating in the region.
According to him, the strike was led by the Nigerian Armed Forces in collaboration with the United States military, targeting a high-value location linked to the ISIS commander.
Tinubu said the operation resulted in the elimination of Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, along with several of his close associates who were present at the time of the attack.
“Overnight, Nigeria and the United States achieved a significant breakthrough through a highly coordinated counterterrorism effort,” the statement said, noting that the operation dealt a major blow to Islamic State elements in the Lake Chad axis.
The President added that the armed forces acted on credible intelligence which guided the precision strike on the suspect’s compound, leading to what he described as a “successful neutralisation” of the target and his lieutenants.
Early assessment reports, he stated, confirmed that the ISIS leader and his fighters were killed during the operation, describing it as a major success in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
Islamic State
Commending the troops involved, Bola Tinubu praised the partnership with the United States, saying it reflects a shared commitment to global and regional security.
He also expressed appreciation to the government of the United States and its leadership under Donald Trump for supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, adding that the collaboration will continue in the collective fight against terrorism.
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