The Defence Headquarters has announced that ongoing joint counterterrorism operations involving Nigerian troops and the United States Africa Command have led to the killing of 175 Islamic State fighters in Nigeria’s North-east. The military said the operations targeted insurgent strongholds across the region, which has remained the epicentre of terrorism and insurgency in the country. In a statement issued Tuesday, Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Samaila Uba, said the coordinated offensive began several days ago and had dealt a major blow to terrorist networks operating within the Lake Chad basin and surrounding communities.
The announcement followed revelations by US President Donald Trump that a joint Nigeria-US military operation eliminated an Islamic State commander, Abubakar Mainok, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu later confirmed the operation, saying the terror leader was killed alongside several of his fighters on an island in Lake Chad.
Subsequent military reports disclosed that the operation was carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with the United States Africa Command at Metele, a border town in Borno State near the Niger Republic.
However, the announcement sparked controversy among Nigerians after earlier military reports in 2024 had also claimed that Mainok was killed. The development prompted widespread questions over the true identity of the slain insurgent commander.
Responding to the concerns, both the presidency and the Defence Headquarters issued separate explanations. While the presidency described the earlier report as a case of mistaken identity, the DHQ argued that terrorist leaders frequently adopt aliases, making it difficult to confirm identities during operations.
Providing further updates on the latest offensive, the DHQ said the operation destroyed several Islamic State checkpoints, weapons storage sites, logistics hubs, military equipment and financial structures used to sustain terrorist activities in the North-east.
The military also reaffirmed that Mainok was among those killed during the strikes, stressing that his death had “severely disrupted ISIS command, operational coordination and external attack networks.”
According to the statement, other senior insurgent figures eliminated during the operation include Abd-al Wahhab, described as an ISWAP commander responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda activities; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another top ISWAP figure; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, who reportedly managed the group’s media operations and worked closely with Mainok.
The Defence Headquarters said the latest operations underscored the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating terrorist threats across the country. “The joint operations will continue to hunt down and destroy those who threaten our nation and regional stability,” the statement added.