Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria – The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced that more than 200 Islamic State (ISIS) fighters have been eliminated in a series of coordinated counterterrorism operations carried out in Northeast Nigeria in collaboration with Nigerian authorities. The joint campaign, spanning multiple weeks, has dealt what officials described as a "significant setback" to terrorist networks operating in the Lake Chad Basin and surrounding regions.
AFRICOM disclosed the milestone in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, stating that the operations targeted ISIS elements operating in the region and resulted in the elimination of several senior commanders. "AFRICOM, in continued coordination with Nigeria, conducted operations against ISIS fighters in NE Nigeria. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed," the command stated. It added that the operation "eliminated more than 200 terrorists, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki." In a flyer accompanying the statement, AFRICOM identified al-Minuki as a key figure within the Islamic State network, describing him as a major financier and strategist behind terrorist operations. "OUR SUCCESSFUL MISSION ELIMINATED SEVERAL KEY ISIS LEADERS TO INCLUDE ABU-BILAL AL-MANUKI," the flyer read. It further claimed that al-Minuki "was the ISIS financial and organizational mastermind plotting attacks against the United States and our interests."
The successful campaign was the culmination of months of meticulous planning and extensive intelligence sharing between the two nations, according to Colonel Rebecca Heyse, Director of Public Affairs at U.S. Africa Command. Speaking during an X Spaces engagement on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, titled "Strengthening Security Through Strategic Information Sharing: United States and Nigerian Military Partnership Against Terrorism," Heyse stated that the joint counterterrorism operations had delivered significant setbacks to ISIS activities in West Africa. She attributed the success of the mission to close military cooperation, effective intelligence sharing, and the professionalism of Nigerian security forces.
The first major strike in the campaign occurred on the night of May 15-16, 2026, when U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted a joint operation targeting a compound in Metele, within the Lake Chad Basin, where senior ISIS leaders were reportedly hiding. The operation resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by both nations as the global second-in-command of ISIS, along with multiple other senior leaders and fighters. President Donald Trump announced the successful mission on his Truth Social platform, describing al-Minuki as the "most active terrorist in the world" and the individual "most responsible for killing Christians" in Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also confirmed the operation, describing it as a "daring joint operation" and a "significant example of effective collaboration" in the fight against terrorism. Following the initial strike, AFRICOM conducted additional kinetic strikes against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria on May 17 and May 18, 2026, in continued coordination with the Nigerian government.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has hailed the partnership as a game-changer in the nation's protracted war against insurgency. Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, disclosed on Tuesday that the strategic military partnership between Nigeria and the United States has significantly weakened the operational capabilities of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist groups. According to Uba, the collaboration has enhanced intelligence sharing, capacity building, strategic communication, logistics support, and overall operational effectiveness in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign.
The military operations did not only target personnel but also systematically dismantled the terrorists' physical infrastructure. According to AFRICOM and DHQ reports, the coordinated offensive destroyed multiple terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, and training facilities. The operations also disrupted financial channels and media structures that supported terrorist activities across Nigeria and the wider region. Colonel Heyse added that the operations, which began on May 16, were based on months of deliberate planning and intelligence sharing between both countries.
AFRICOM emphasized that the campaign inflicted no harm on either U.S. or Nigerian personnel. "No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed," the command repeated in its statement, highlighting the high level of coordination and the professional execution of the operations. Major General Uba also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the equipment, platforms, and resources required to sustain ongoing military operations.
The timing of the announcement is significant, occurring just days before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, and amid an escalation in U.S. military operations in the region directed by the White House. While AFRICOM did not specify the exact number of strikes conducted or the precise timeline beyond the initial May operations, the announcement marks one of the most significant counterterrorism successes claimed by the U.S. military in cooperation with Nigeria in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, revealed on the same X Spaces platform that the Agency is reassigning intelligence officers in response to emerging national security challenges. He said the NIA is redesigning its training modules to enhance capacity in areas such as cyber threats, artificial intelligence, and drone technology. The comments reflect a broader shift in Nigeria's national security strategy toward greater technological adaptation and international cooperation.
Reaffirming Washington’s commitment, Colonel Heyse stated that the partnership is founded on respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and demonstrates the effectiveness of international collaboration in confronting terrorism. Both Nigerian and U.S. officials stressed that sustained intelligence sharing, strategic communication, and public engagement remain critical to consolidating gains made against terrorism and ensuring long-term regional stability.
The announcement of the elimination of over 200 ISIS fighters comes amidst ongoing efforts by Nigerian security forces and international partners to combat insurgency and terrorism in the country’s Northeast region, where extremist groups linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram have continued to launch attacks against civilians and security personnel. Security experts warn that despite the success of the campaign, the long-term challenge remains: destroying the ideology and rebuilding the devastated communities that have been at the receiving end of the insurgency for over a decade.
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