President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, during a joint military operation conducted by Nigerian and United States forces in the Lake Chad Basin.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Tinubu described the operation as a major success in the ongoing fight against terrorism and a strong example of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

According to the President, Nigerian troops, working alongside the United States Armed Forces, carried out what he described as “a daring joint operation” that dealt a significant blow to the Islamic State network operating in the region.

Tinubu said preliminary assessments confirmed that Al-Manuki and several of his lieutenants were killed during a targeted strike on the militant leader’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin.

The President noted that the operation represented an important step toward strengthening the shared security objectives of both countries.

“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” Tinubu stated.

He also commended the military personnel involved in the operation, praising their professionalism and bravery.

“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” the statement added.

The development comes amid intensified military offensives against insurgent groups in Nigeria’s North-East and the wider Lake Chad region, where Islamic State-affiliated factions have continued attacks on military installations and civilian communities.

Earlier, United States President Donald Trump also confirmed the operation in a post on Truth Social, describing Al-Manuki as “the most active terrorist in the world.”

“Tonight, at my direction, 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 wrote.

The US President further described the slain militant as the “second in command of ISIS globally,” saying he had attempted to evade capture while operating from Africa.

“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump said.

Trump added that Al-Manuki, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 over alleged links to the Islamic State group, would “no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”

He also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, stating that the operation significantly weakened ISIS’s global operations.

The joint mission highlights growing security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States as both countries intensify efforts to dismantle extremist networks operating across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider West African region.