Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the killing of top ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Manuki in a joint military operation carried out by Nigerian and American forces.
The president made the announcement in a statement released on Saturday, describing the overnight mission as a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.
Tinubu said the operation, conducted alongside the United States Armed Forces, targeted the terrorist leader and several of his lieutenants at a compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,” the president said.
According to him, early intelligence assessments confirmed the death of al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during the strike.
The confirmation followed an earlier statement by Donald Trump, who announced on Friday that American and Nigerian troops had successfully eliminated what he described as “the most active terrorist in the world.”
Trump, speaking through his Truth Social platform, claimed al-Manuki was the second-in-command of ISIS globally and had been coordinating extremist operations while hiding in Africa.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump wrote.
He added that the operation had significantly weakened ISIS operations worldwide and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation.
Reacting to the development, Tinubu praised the professionalism and bravery of both Nigerian and U.S. personnel involved in the mission, while expressing appreciation to Trump for supporting the operation.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” Tinubu said.
The president also vowed that more coordinated offensives would be launched against terrorist strongholds across the country as part of ongoing efforts to restore security.
