A series of high-precision, coordinated counterterrorism operations launched by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in close collaboration with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has resulted in the elimination of 175 ISIS terrorists across the country's North-East region.
The massive defense breakthrough was officially confirmed in a comprehensive statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
The joint aerial and ground assaults, which commenced a few days ago, systematically targeted dug-in Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and ISIS strongholds, effectively dismantling their active command grids, checkpoints, financial networks, and heavily fortified weapons caches.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that as of May 19, 2026, battlefield damage assessments proved the neutralization of several high-value insurgent commanders.
Most notable among the dead is Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, an operative described by international defense experts as one of the most dangerous and significant ISIS leaders globally.
Al-Minuki was responsible for directing global terrorist financing, cross-border recruitment drives, and complex attack planning targeting both Nigerian citizens and international civilians.
Highlighting the structural damage inflicted on the terror network, Major General Uba stated:
“As of 19 May 2026, assessments indicate that 175 ISIS terrorists have been eliminated from the battlefield. His death severely disrupts ISIS command, operational coordination and external attack networks.
Other terrorist figures eliminated include Abd-al Wahhab, ISWAP senior leader responsible for coordinating attacks and distributing propaganda, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, ISWAP senior member and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, ISWAP senior media production team manager and close confidant to al-Minuki.
The joint operations will continue to hunt down and destroy those who threaten our nation and regional stability.”
The massive military update follows a joint diplomatic briefing where United States President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu formally verified the death of al-Minuki.
President Trump categorized the slain militant as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and the most active terrorist on earth, noting that the kingpin mistakenly believed he could evade Western and regional intelligence tracking by hiding deep within the African continent.
On Monday, the DHQ concluded that an extra 20 ISWAP combatants were successfully neutralized in a follow-up tactical air strike, signaling an unrelenting campaign to restore absolute peace to the region.
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