A joint air operation involving United States and Nigerian forces has reportedly killed three senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad Basin, further weakening the group’s command structure following the earlier elimination of its leader, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
Security and intelligence sources confirmed that the latest strikes targeted key operational figures identified as Abu Huraira, Ba Yuram, and Mallam Haruna, all described as lieutenants within the inner circle of the insurgent network.
The commanders were reportedly killed in coordinated precision airstrikes supported by battle damage assessments and multiple intelligence confirmations, according to counter-insurgency publication sources.
Their deaths come weeks after the killing of ISWAP leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whose elimination was previously announced by U.S. authorities and later confirmed by the Nigerian government.
Al-Minuki, a high-ranking figure linked to the group’s regional operations, was said to have maintained extensive operational ties across insurgent enclaves in the Lake Chad axis before his death in a targeted strike.
Sources said Abu Huraira, one of the slain lieutenants, served as Fiya of Tumbun Mota and was a close relative by marriage to Abbor Mainok, another influential commander within the group’s hierarchy. He was reportedly responsible for coordinating field operations and maintaining influence over fighters operating in key strongholds.
Ba Yuram, described as a powerful Amir, was said to oversee logistics, procurement, weapons acquisition, and supply routes across multiple ISWAP enclaves, playing a central role in sustaining the group’s operational capacity across the region.
Mallam Haruna, identified as Abbor Mainok’s personal bodyguard and Chief Security Officer, was responsible for coordinating movement and security for senior insurgent commanders while evading counter-terrorism surveillance.
Intelligence reports also indicated that Abubakar Buduma, the Qa’id of Kirta Wulgo, sustained fatal injuries in earlier strikes and later died from his wounds, adding to the list of high-value losses suffered by the group.
Security sources further disclosed that several foreign ISIS-linked drone operators, reportedly Arab nationals embedded within ISWAP’s technical unit, were also killed in the coordinated air operations.
The combined losses are said to have severely disrupted the group’s propaganda, logistics, and weapons supply chains, with analysts warning of a significant leadership vacuum within the insurgent structure.
“The death of Ba Yuram in particular is a major blow to ISWAP’s logistics architecture,” one intelligence source said, noting that his role in coordinating supply routes and arms distribution was critical to the group’s sustained operations.
Military analysts believe the recent strikes, combined with the earlier killing of al-Minuki, have degraded ISWAP’s ability to launch large-scale coordinated attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.
The operation comes amid intensified regional counter-terrorism efforts involving multinational forces, as security agencies continue to target insurgent enclaves and supply corridors in the volatile region.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security leadership, including the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, has continued to reinforce military collaboration with international partners to curb insurgency threats across the North-East.
Top security officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, have previously led strategic engagements aimed at strengthening intelligence-sharing and battlefield coordination against terror networks operating in the country.
Authorities say sustained pressure on insurgent groups will remain central to ongoing efforts to restore stability in the region.
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