The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the killing of senior ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki during a joint Nigerian and US military operation in the Lake Chad Basin
DHQ Confirms Killing of Top ISIS Commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in Nigeria-US Operation
The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the elimination of notorious ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki during a major joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin, describing the mission as a significant breakthrough in the global fight against terrorism.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, the military disclosed that the operation was “meticulously planned and highly coordinated,” leading to the successful neutralisation of one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist figures.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the precision strike was made possible through enhanced intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States military.
The military described Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as a highly influential ISIS operational strategist who played central roles in coordinating media propaganda, economic warfare, weapons production, explosives development, and drone operations for ISIS-linked groups operating outside Nigeria.
The statement further revealed that intelligence assessments indicated the slain terrorist had recently been elevated to Head of the General Directorate of States, effectively making him the second most powerful figure within the global ISIS hierarchy.
“His death removes a critical node through which ISIS coordinated and directed operations across different regions of the world,” the Defence Headquarters stated.
Military authorities also linked al-Minuki to several terrorist activities in West Africa, including longstanding operational ties with ISIS-West Africa and alleged involvement in the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping that shocked the nation.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed that between 2015 and early 2016, the terrorist commander facilitated the movement of fighters into Libya to strengthen ISIS operations in North Africa before formally aligning with the terror group after previously operating within Boko Haram ranks.
According to the military, al-Minuki later emerged in 2023 as the Nigeria-based Emir of the al-Furqan GDP Office, where he oversaw ISIS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians as well as vulnerable ethnic and religious communities.
The Defence Headquarters noted that the successful operation underscores Nigeria’s determination to confront terrorism decisively and deny extremist organisations the ability to threaten national, regional, and international security.
“The operation equally underscores the importance of our Nigeria-United States collaboration, intelligence sharing and coordinated military action in defeating transnational terrorist networks,” the statement added.
The military also commended the courage, professionalism, and dedication of personnel involved in the operation, reaffirming its commitment to sustained offensives aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and restoring peace and stability across affected regions.
The latest development is being viewed as one of the most consequential blows against ISIS operations in West Africa and the broader Sahel region in recent years, amid intensified multinational efforts to curb insurgency and cross-border terrorism.
