Nigeria-U.S. Counterterrorism Success: Intelligence Operations Lead to ISWAP Commander's Elimination

Metele, Borno State – A significant blow has been dealt to terrorism in West Africa with the elimination of Abu Mainok, the top commander of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Also known as Abu Bilal al-Minuki, he was considered the second-in-command of ISIL globally.

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Brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield.

The operation, conducted on Friday, May 15, 2026, was a joint counterterrorism effort by Nigerian and U.S. forces. President Donald Trump lauded the mission on his Truth Social account, stating, “Brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield.” Trump added that al-Minuki underestimated the intelligence capabilities, noting, “little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.”

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria hailed the operation as a "significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism." He confirmed that al-Minuki and several lieutenants were killed during a strike on his compound. "Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives," Tinubu stated, extending gratitude to President Trump for his leadership.

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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.

U.S. Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, also commended Nigeria's intelligence services. "The Nigerians have been instrumental throughout the last several months, developing the target, helping us with the intelligence and providing support," Anderson remarked. "It could not have been done by our own forces. We needed to do that in conjunction with them.” Security analysts suggest that the "sources" mentioned by Trump and Anderson likely refer to Nigeria’s intelligence agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

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Both countries have recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.

This successful operation occurred just six days after crucial counterterrorism developments in a North Central town, over 1,100 kilometers away from Metele, where al-Minuki and over 175 fighters met their end. The coordinated efforts highlight a deepening security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.

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Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives.