The Nigeria Military has revealed details of the high-profile joint military operation that led to the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the Islamic State’s global second-in-command and one of the most wanted terrorist leaders operating within the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region.
According to the military, the operation was carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), during a coordinated overnight strike on a terrorist enclave in Metele, Borno State.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, the operation began at about 12:01 a.m. and ended around 4:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026.
The military described the mission as one of the most significant counter-terrorism victories recorded in Nigeria’s North-East theatre since the launch of Operation HADIN KAI.
Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was identified as a globally designated terrorist linked to ISIS operations across Africa. He had reportedly been declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States Department of State in June 2023 for coordinating funding and operational support for terrorist cells operating in Northern Borno, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad region.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed that intelligence reports confirmed that Al-Minuki and his fighters had established a heavily fortified hideout in Metele, prompting a prolonged intelligence and surveillance operation involving reconnaissance missions and legal intercepts.
Following confirmation of the target, Nigerian troops and U.S. forces launched precision air and ground strikes on the enclave, while Special Forces units secured escape routes and provided tactical support throughout the operation.
“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 confirmed that Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki was killed alongside several top lieutenants and multiple fighters loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The military also noted that the operation recorded zero casualties among Nigerian and allied forces, describing the mission as evidence of growing military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorism.
Troops have since commenced follow-up clearance operations aimed at destroying remaining splinter cells and preventing regrouping by terrorists in the region.
The Defence Headquarters said the successful mission sends a strong message that terrorist groups would no longer find safe haven within Nigeria’s North-East region.
The development follows earlier reactions from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former U.S. President Donald Trump, both of whom praised the joint operation and the collaboration between Nigerian and American forces.