BBC: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in a joint-operation with the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,” Tinubu said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operation was first announced by US President Donald Trump, who described Abu-Bilal al-Minuki as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al\u2011Minuki was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by Washington in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The killing marks another significant setback for Islamic State group (IS) following the killing of its leader Abu Bakr al\u2011Baghdadi in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tinubu said in a statement that al-Manuki was killed along with “several of his lieutenants” during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basin is a huge region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. It has long been a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abu-Bilal al-Manuki is believed to have been from Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. Analysts say his nickname likely came from Mainok, a town in the state, following a common regional tradition where people are identified by their hometowns or family names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Nigerian Military said the “precision operation” was made possible through the “recently formed US-Nigeria partnership and intelligence sharing efforts.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It said al-Minuki had been promoted to “Head of General Directorate of States”, making him one of the most senior figures within the global IS hierarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before that, officials said he oversaw IS-linked operations across the Sahel and West Africa, including attacks targeting civilians and minority communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n