THE Defence Headquarters has disclosed that joint military operations carried out by Nigerian and United States forces in the North-East have killed 175 Islamic State fighters, including several senior ISWAP commanders.
According to a statement issued today by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the coordinated airstrikes dealt a major setback to terrorist networks operating within the region, with multiple strategic targets successfully destroyed.
The military said the ongoing offensive has significantly weakened the operational capacity of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), adding that 175 militants had so far been “eliminated from the battlefield.”
An official of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also confirmed the casualty figure during a Congressional hearing in Washington.
AFRICOM commander, General Dagvin Anderson, lauded Nigeria’s role in the operation, stating that the country had been instrumental in intelligence gathering, target development, and operational support over the past several months.
One of the major outcomes of the operation was the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by Nigerian and U.S. authorities as a top Islamic State leader and one of the world’s most active terrorists.
Al-Minuki, who reportedly oversaw global operations for the extremist group, was said to have coordinated strategic media and financial activities while also supervising the production of weapons, explosives, and drones for terrorist operations.
Following the announcement of his death, President Bola Tinubu expressed appreciation to U.S. President Donald Trump for what he described as unwavering support in the fight against terrorism.
The Nigerian leader also expressed optimism for more coordinated operations aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds across the country.
The Defence Headquarters further revealed that several other high-ranking ISWAP commanders were neutralised during the recent operations.
Among them was Abd-al Wahhab, described as a senior ISWAP leader responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda activities.
The military also listed Abu Musa al-Mangawi as another top commander killed, while Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir was identified as a senior media production operative and close associate of al-Minuki.
General Anderson noted that “several key ISIS leaders” were eliminated during the strikes.
The latest offensive comes amid renewed attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents on communities, security formations, and civilians in parts of northern Nigeria.
The resurgence of violence had earlier prompted President Tinubu to declare a nationwide state of emergency in 2025, while the U.S. government intensified military cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The United States military had also conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State on December 25 last year, targeting suspected jihadist elements in collaboration with Nigerian security forces.
Northern Nigeria continues to face persistent security threats from both terrorist groups and armed bandits, who frequently carry out attacks on villages and engage in mass abductions for ransom.
AFRICOM has similarly intensified operations against extremist groups such as ISIS and al-Shabaab in Somalia, increasing airstrike missions since the start of the year.
