…Army Gives More Details On How Al-Minuki Was Killed
By Peter Salami
The Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) have intensified joint counter-terrorism operations in the North-East, killing 175 ISIS fighters and destroying multiple terrorist bases, weapons caches, checkpoints and logistics hubs linked to ISWAP operations across the Lake Chad Basin.
The Defence Headquarters said the sustained operations have also disrupted terrorist financing structures and wiped out several senior ISIS commanders, days after the elimination of globally wanted terror figure Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a precision military operation in Borno State.
In a statement issued Tuesday by Major General Samaila Uba, the military said the latest offensive represented another major blow against ISIS networks operating in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the coordinated strikes destroyed military infrastructure used by terrorists to sustain operations and significantly weakened ISIS command and operational capabilities.
The military confirmed that among those eliminated were senior ISWAP figures, including Abd-al Wahhab, accused of coordinating attacks and propaganda operations; Abu Musa al-Mangawi; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, described as a close confidant of al-Minuki.
Giving details of how al-Minuki was killed, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed that the ISIS commander died during a highly coordinated precision air-land assault carried out in Metele, Borno State, in the early hours of May 16.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba described the mission as “a landmark joint counter-terrorism operation of historic significance.”
He said the operation began at about 12:01 am and lasted until approximately 4:00 am after intelligence reports confirmed that al-Minuki and members of his international terrorist network had established a concealed and heavily fortified enclave within Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI in Metele.
According to him, the assault followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, legal intercept operations, and sustained reconnaissance jointly conducted by Nigerian forces and US partners, leading to what it described as “full target development and fidelity.”
After confirming the exact location of the terrorists, Nigerian and US forces launched coordinated precision air-ground strikes on the enclave while Special Forces troops were simultaneously deployed to secure the area, block escape routes, and provide emergency extraction support for operatives and air assets if necessary.
“The operation involved several air platforms in a synchronised air-land configuration that left the terrorists with no avenue of escape,” the statement said.
Military authorities said al-Minuki was killed alongside several of his lieutenants and multiple combatants during the operation.
The military identified al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, as a US-designated global terrorist sanctioned by the US Department of State in June 2023 under Executive Order 13224.
He was a leading ISIS figure within the group’s General Directorate of Provinces, allegedly responsible for channeling international funding, operational directives, and logistical support to terrorist cells operating across the Sahel and Northern Borno.
Lt. Col. Uba disclosed that the operation was executed without casualties or loss of operational assets, attributing the success to extensive planning, tactical coordination, and growing synergy between Nigerian troops and AFRICOM.
Troops are currently conducting follow-up exploitation operations aimed at tracking down fleeing insurgents, dismantling splinter terror cells, and preventing any regrouping by ISIS fighters.
The Defence Headquarters vowed that joint operations against terrorist elements would continue until all threats to Nigeria’s territorial integrity and regional stability are eliminated.