President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu have confirmed that a joint military operation between the United States and Nigeria successfully eliminated a high-ranking Islamic State commander. The mission targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, in the Lake Chad Basin region.
Trump Announces Successful Strike
President Trump announced the operation on his Truth Social platform, describing it as a meticulously planned and highly complex mission. He stated that American forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces flawlessly executed the strike, removing one of the world's most active terrorists from the battlefield. Trump emphasized that al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa, but intelligence sources tracked his activities, leading to the successful strike. The president declared that al-Minuki's removal significantly diminishes ISIS's global operations and thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership.
Nigeria Confirms Joint Operation
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in a statement released on Saturday, confirmed that Nigerian and US forces conducted a joint counterterrorism operation that resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, in the Lake Chad Basin. President Tinubu described the operation as a major success in the ongoing war against terrorism and praised the collaboration between both countries' armed forces. He noted that the overnight mission dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State, with early assessments confirming the elimination of the wanted terrorist leader and several of his lieutenants during a strike on his compound.
Tinubu Commends Military Personnel
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the United States government for its support of Nigeria's security efforts and specifically thanked President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support. He commended the professionalism and courage of the military personnel from both countries who participated in the operation. Tinubu stated that he looks forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation, reinforcing Nigeria's commitment to combating terrorism.
The joint operation underscores the strengthening security partnership between the United States and Nigeria in addressing regional and global terrorist threats.
