US, Nigeria announce joint operation that eliminated top ISIS leader

In a significant victory against global terrorism, United States and Nigerian forces have successfully conducted a joint operation resulting in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a senior leader within the Islamic State (ISIS) hierarchy.

The operation, which culminated on Friday night, was hailed by both nations as a testament to their strengthened partnership and shared commitment to
combating extremist threats.

Peter Hegseth, the United States Secretary of War, announced the successful strike on X, stating that U.S. forces, in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, killed Abu-Bilal alMinuki and other ISIS leaders.

Hegseth highlighted that the operation was a direct outcome of the President Trump’s November 2025 declaration to protect Christians in Nigeria, leading to
months of intelligence gathering and preparation by the Department of War.

He emphasized that al-Minuki, described as the number two figure for ISIS globally, was responsible for overseeing attack planning, hostage-taking, and financial operations.

Al-Minuki’s removal, along with other ISIS personnel, significantly degrades the group’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, American citizens, and innocent civilians.
The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, corroborated the success of the operation, commending the effective collaboration between the Nigerian and United States Armed Forces.

In a statement from Aso Villa, the President confirmed the elimination of AbuBilal Al-Manuki (also known as Abu- Mainok), along with several lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.

He expressed gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support, affirming Nigeria’s appreciation for the partnership in advancing shared security objectives and looking forward to more decisive strikes against terrorist enclaves.
Further details emerged from Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in a press release.

He confirmed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was a key ISIS operational and strategic figure, providing guidance on media operations, economic warfare, and the development of weapons, explosives, and drones.

Intelligence indicated that as recently as February 2026, al-Minuki may have been elevated to Head of General Directorate of States, making him the second most senior leader within the ISIS global hierarchy.
Al-Minuki’s operational ties extended to ISIS-West Africa, and he was linked to the 2018 Dapchi kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls. Before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, al-Minuki also a prominent leader within Boko Haram.

Addressing Past Controversies and Ensuring Accuracy

The announcement was met with some public skepticism, given past instances of highvalue targets being wrongly declared dead.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Assistant to the
President on Information and Strategy, on X addressed these concerns, where he acknowledged the needless controversy trailing such reports.
However, security sources insist that the current reactions are premature and not grounded in the full operational context.

Officials clarified that earlier reports of Al-Manuki’s death in 2024 were a case of mistaken identity, as the Birnin Gwari theatre was never within his operational sphere.

This time, security and military authorities maintain a significantly higher level of confidence.
Intelligence sources revealed that the latest operation was the culmination of
prolonged Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts, including
communications monitoring and phone intercepts that began in December 2025.

The intelligence trail was built over months of persistent tracking, digital surveillance, and human intelligence inputs. Efforts initially focused on capturing him alive, with surveillance
conducted in multiple locations, including Abuja and Maiduguri, just days before the final operation.

Officials emphasize that unlike previous reports, this strike was executed with a higher degree of precision, target validation, and multi-source intelligence confirmation.
Multiple layers of verification were applied before authorizing the kinetic action, making this operation distinct from earlier incidents that required revision. “This time, there is no ambiguity,” officials stated.

Some critics who point to historical anomalies, such as the erroneous reports of Abubakar Shekau’s death, are cautioned against dismissing every confirmed operation.

Security analysts note that modern counterterrorism history includes initial uncertainties, especially in complex environments where insurgent networks use aliases and misinformation.
For example, early reports of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death were later proven incorrect, with actual death confirmed four years after the first announcement. Such cases highlight the evolving and often imperfect nature of intelligence gathering in asymmetric warfare.

Bayo Onanuga concluded by stating that undermining credible joint operations risks weakening public confidence in ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces, with foreign intelligence partners, operate in one of the world’s most complex insurgency environments, requiring stringent and multi-layered verification processes before public confirmation.

Military authorities remain firm in their position,.asserting that the operation targeting Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki represents a validated, intelligence-driven success, and they are “100 per cent certain” of his elimination”, Onanuga added.