President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed a major joint military operation involving Nigerian and United States forces that reportedly eliminated a senior ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, in the Lake Chad Basin.
The operation, which has been described by officials as a coordinated counterterrorism strike, took place overnight and targeted a compound linked to the terrorist leader and his network.
According to the President, the mission also resulted in the death of several close lieutenants of the ISIS commander, marking what he called a significant breakthrough in ongoing security efforts.
Tinubu praised the cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, expressing appreciation to former U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in supporting the operation.
He also commended the military personnel involved on both sides, describing the operation as a display of professionalism, precision, and strong intelligence coordination.
Reports indicate that the strike followed extensive planning, intelligence gathering, and surveillance operations aimed at tracking the movement of the ISIS leader across key locations in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.
The President stated that early assessments confirmed the elimination of the targeted commander, who was believed to be one of the top figures within ISIS operations in West Africa.
Tinubu further described the operation as part of a broader effort to dismantle terrorist enclaves and disrupt insurgent networks operating across the region.
He added that the government looks forward to continued collaboration with international partners in carrying out further “decisive strikes” against terrorist groups threatening national security.
The Lake Chad Basin, which borders Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, remains a major hotspot for insurgent activity linked to ISIS-affiliated and other extremist groups.
Security analysts say the latest operation represents one of the most significant blows to terrorist leadership structures in recent years, though they caution that sustained efforts will be required to prevent regrouping.
