By Amos W. Peter
United States President, Donald J. Trump, and Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have confirmed the killing of a top ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, during a joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and American forces.
In a statement released on Friday night, Trump said the operation was conducted at his direction and described it as a “meticulously planned and very complex mission” involving both the American military and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to Trump, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki was regarded as one of the most active terrorist figures globally and served as the second-in-command of ISIS operations worldwide.
“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump stated.
He added that the ISIS leader had been hiding in Africa and was tracked through intelligence sources before being eliminated during the operation.
Trump also praised the Nigerian government for its partnership in the mission, noting that the operation had significantly weakened ISIS’s global network.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu also confirmed the operation in an official statement from the Presidential Villa in Abuja, hours after the U.S. President made his statement.
Tinubu said Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the United States military, carried out a joint strike that dealt “a heavy blow” to the Islamic State.
The Nigerian President disclosed that preliminary assessments confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, alongside several of his lieutenants during an airstrike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
“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 stated.
He commended the personnel involved in the mission for their professionalism and courage, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to intensifying operations against terrorist groups across the country.
The Lake Chad region has long been a hotspot for insurgent activities linked to ISIS-affiliated groups and Boko Haram factions operating within Nigeria and neighboring countries.
The development marks one of the most significant joint counterterrorism operations between Nigeria and the United States in recent years.
See photos of the statement below:
Nova Pulse Times 
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