US, Nigerian Forces Eliminate ISIS Global Second-in-Command in Joint Operation
International
In a landmark counter-terrorism success that highlights the strength of Nigeria’s military institutions, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), operating in seamless coordination with United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), have neutralized Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki – the Islamic State’s (ISIS) global second-in-command and the most senior ISWAP leader in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region – along with several of his key lieutenants and multiple combatants.
The high-precision air-land operation, which ran from approximately 0001 to 0400 hours on Saturday, May 16, 2026, was the result of sustained joint intelligence efforts, including legal intercepts and reconnaissance that achieved complete target development. Following confirmed intelligence that Al-Minuki and his cell had established a fortified enclave at Metele in Borno State, Nigerian Special Forces secured the area while synchronized air and ground assets ensured no escape routes remained.
The operation was executed following authorisation from the Military High Command, underscoring the highest levels of institutional coordination and strategic decision-making that underpinned the success of this mission.
This top-level approval reflects the Nigerian Armed Forces’ robust command structure and its ability to integrate complex multinational operations while maintaining full operational sovereignty and oversight.
The mission concluded with zero casualties among Nigerian or US personnel and no loss of assets, a clear testament to meticulous planning, superior tactical execution, and the deepening synergy between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and their US partners in the global fight against terrorism.
Battle damage assessment is ongoing, with follow-on exploitation operations already underway to dismantle remaining splinter cells and prevent any reconstitution of ISIS/ISWAP networks in the North East Theatre.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki or Abu-Mainok, was a US-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) since June 2023 for his role in channeling funding and operational guidance to terror cells across the Sahel and Lake Chad region. His elimination marks the most significant counter-terrorism achievement in the North East since the launch of Operation HADIN KAI.
US President Donald J. Trump publicly commended the operation, stating that “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission.”
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also confirmed the strike, describing it as a “daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State.”
This decisive action reaffirms Operation HADIN KAI’s status as the pre-eminent counter-terrorism formation in sub-Saharan Africa. It sends a clear message that terrorists will find no sanctuary in Nigerian territory, while demonstrating how strategic authorisation at the highest levels, combined with international partnership, delivers results that protect national security and contribute to global stability.
The Nigerian Army continues aggressive clearance operations in the area as intelligence exploitation proceeds.
