President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the killing of a senior leader of the Islamic State group, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin. In a statement issued from the State House in Abuja on Saturday, President Tinubu said the overnight operation marked a “significant example of effective collaboration” between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism. According to the President, the operation was conducted by the Nigerian Armed Forces in close collaboration with the United States Armed Forces and resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, alongside several of his lieutenants. The strike reportedly targeted the terrorist leader’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin, a region that has long served as a stronghold for insurgent groups operating across parts of Nigeria and neighbouring countries. President Tinubu described the operation as a major blow to the Islamic State’s ranks and commended the professionalism and courage of personnel involved in the mission. “Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” the President stated. He also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for what he described as his leadership and unwavering support in the counterterrorism effort. The President further pledged continued military offensives against terrorist enclaves across the country, expressing optimism that more decisive operations would follow in the ongoing war against insurgency. Security analysts believe the killing of Al-Manuki could weaken the operational capabilities of Islamic State-linked fighters in the Lake Chad region, where terrorist activities have continued to threaten civilian populations and regional stability.
