The Defence Headquarters Nigeria says coordinated air operations involving Nigerian forces and the United States Africa Command have resulted in the killing of 175 ISIS-linked terrorists in Nigeria’s North East.
In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said the joint strikes targeted terrorist strongholds in Borno State, with operations extending over several days.
He said the mission led to the elimination of senior commanders, including ISIS’s second-in-command in the region, as well as key operatives involved in planning and financing attacks.
Among those killed was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a high-level ISIS external operations coordinator, alongside other figures identified as Abd-al Wahhab, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, who reportedly handled propaganda, logistics and media operations for ISWAP.
According to the military, the airstrikes also destroyed terrorist checkpoints, weapons storage sites, logistics hubs and financial networks used to support insurgent activities across the Lake Chad Basin.
The DHQ said the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki is a major setback for ISIS operations, particularly in coordination and external attack planning.
It added that intelligence assessments as of May 19, 2026, confirm that a total of 175 terrorists were neutralised in the operation.
The military described the joint campaign as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and deny them freedom of movement and operational capacity in the region.
The Defence Headquarters further assured that counterterrorism operations will continue across the North East to eliminate remaining threats and strengthen security across Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.
