Nigerian Army gives details of operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, top commanders in Borno

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigerian Army has released a detailed account of the joint counter-terrorism mission that led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s global second-in-command, alongside several senior commanders in Metele, Borno State.

In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the Army confirmed that the operation was conducted in close coordination with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The meticulously planned precision air-land strike, executed between 0001 and 0400 hours on 16 May 2026, neutralised al-Minuki and multiple combatants without any casualties or loss of assets.

Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was a U.S.-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) since June 2023. He served as a leading official within ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, channelling international funding and operational guidance to terror cells across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. His elimination is described as the most consequential counter-terrorism outcome in the North East Theatre since the inception of OPHK.

The Army disclosed that the operation was the culmination of protracted intelligence efforts, including legal intercepts and sustained reconnaissance, which confirmed al-Minuki’s fortified enclave in Metele. Special Forces secured the perimeter, denied escape routes, and ensured extraction readiness for air platforms. The synchronised strike left the terrorists with no avenue of escape.

Battle Damage Assessment is ongoing, with aggressive follow-on exploitation operations underway to dismantle splinter cells and prevent reconstitution.

The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, acknowledged the success, commending the partnership with Nigeria’s Armed Forces. He described the mission as “meticulously planned” and a decisive blow to ISIS’s global operational structure.

The Nigerian Army emphasised that the operation reaffirms OPHK’s position as the foremost counter-terrorism formation in sub-Saharan Africa, sending a clear message that terrorists will find neither sanctuary nor safety in the North East Theatre.