ABUJA — Hailing a major victory in the global war on terror, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep praise for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States military following a highly coordinated joint surgical operation that successfully eliminated the global second-in-command of ISIS, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
The high-value target, who was also known locally as Abu-Mainok, was taken out alongside several of his top lieutenants during a daring air and ground assault on his heavily fortified compound located deep within the Lake Chad Basin. The operation marks one of the most significant counter-terrorism achievements in recent years, dealing a severe blow to the operational leadership of the Islamic State group across the African continent.
The Takedown: Trump and Tinubu Confirm Operational Success
The cross-border operation was first made public late Friday by United States President Donald Trump via his official Truth Social platform. President Trump praised the exceptional courage of the combined forces and characterized al-Minuki as "the most active terrorist in the world."
“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,” President Trump wrote in his official briefing. He emphasized that the global network of the terrorist organization has been severely compromised by the strike, adding, “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans. With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.” Trump also extended direct administrative gratitude to Abuja, writing, “Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Reacting to the successful mission on Saturday, President Tinubu characterized the milestone as a textbook example of the strategic benefits of international defense partnerships.
“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,” President Tinubu stated. “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.”
Defence Headquarters Validates High-Value Target Status
In a supporting administrative statement released on Saturday morning, Nigeria's Defence Headquarters (DHQ) fully validated the death of the top-tier insurgent commander, officially classifying him as a "wanted global terrorist."
Intelligence briefs indicate that al-Minuki had been using the dense, logistically complex terrain of the Lake Chad Basin as a command-and-control hub. From this hideout, he had been actively pulling the strings, directing, and funding localized terrorist factions while simultaneously coordinating broader international cells linked directly to ISIS central commands.
Military commanders on both sides confirmed that early battle damage assessments have verified the total neutralization of the primary target and his immediate inner circle of advisers. Moving forward, the joint military forces are maintaining a high state of combat readiness in the region, using the momentum of this strike to launch follow-up clearing operations against remaining splinter groups.
