President Bola Tinubu has said he expects “more decisive strikes” from joint Nigerian and United States military operations following the killing of senior ISIS leader Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki.
Tinubu confirmed Al-Manuki’s death on Saturday while commending the partnership between Nigeria and the United States in advancing shared counterterrorism objectives.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” Tinubu said.
The announcement followed an earlier statement by Donald Trump on Friday via Truth Social, where he disclosed that the ISIS commander had been killed during a joint operation involving American and Nigerian forces.
Trump described Al-Manuki as ISIS’s second-in-command globally and referred to him as “the most active terrorist in the world.”
According to the US president, the militant leader had been hiding in Africa while coordinating activities linked to the Islamic State group.
“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, 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 ISIS commander “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,” while stating that the operation had significantly weakened the organisation’s international network.
“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” Trump stated.
The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the operation.
“Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” he added.
Reacting further, Tinubu described the mission as a major demonstration of successful international collaboration against terrorism.
“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 stated.
“Early assessments confirm the elimination of the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin,” Tinubu added.
The Defence Headquarters also confirmed the death of Al-Manuki on Saturday, describing him as a “wanted global terrorist.”
The military said the operation represented a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat terrorism across Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.
