Nigeria, US Forces Kill Top ISIS Commander in Lake Chad Strike

A coordinated operation by Nigerian and US troops has killed Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, a senior Islamic State commander also known as Abu-Mainok, in the Lake Chad Basin.

President Bola Tinubu confirmed the strike on Saturday, calling it a breakthrough in joint counter-terrorism efforts. According to him, the operation targeted Al-Manuki’s compound and eliminated the IS leader along with several deputies.

Tinubu described the mission as a demonstration of what Nigeria and the US can achieve when they act together against terrorism. He praised the conduct of troops from both sides and thanked US President Donald Trump for what he called decisive leadership and support.

“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 White House also confirmed the raid. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation was carried out “at my direction” and described Al-Manuki as the second most senior figure in ISIS globally and its most active operative 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 militant’s death would weaken ISIS’s global network and prevent further attacks on Africans and Americans.

Al-Manuki had been under US sanctions since 2023 for his role in the group’s activities. 

The raid adds to a series of intensified offensives in the North-East and Lake Chad region, where IS-linked fighters have continued to target military posts and civilian areas. Both governments said the strike reflects deepening security cooperation aimed at dismantling extremist cells across West Africa.