President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of wanted Islamic State leader Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
In a statement personally signed on Saturday, Tinubu said the overnight operation by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces dealt a major blow to the Islamic State, with early assessments confirming that Abu-Mainok and several of his lieutenants were killed in a strike on his compound.
The President described the mission as a major success in Nigeria-US security cooperation and said it highlighted the importance of international partnerships in tackling terrorism in the region.
Tinubu also thanked Donald Trump for what he called his leadership and support, while commending military personnel from both countries for their professionalism and courage.
Reacting to the operation, Trump said on his verified social media account that the mission was “meticulously planned” and targeted Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the “second in command of ISIS globally.”
He said the operation had significantly weakened the global operations of the terrorist group and thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership.
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