By Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that 175 ISIS terrorists were eliminated in ongoing counterterrorism operations in the North East jointly conducted by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States Africa Command.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, who disclosed that as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, operational assessments indicated that 175 ISIS terrorists had been eliminated during the operations.
He recalled that the joint strikes, which commenced a few days ago, led to the destruction of ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistical hubs, military equipment and financial networks used to sustain terrorist activities.
According to him, the operations also resulted in the elimination of several senior ISIS leaders, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as one of the most significant ISIS operatives globally.
Major General Uba stated that al-Minuki played a major role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and attack planning targeting Nigerians and civilians across the world.
He noted that the death of al-Minuki had severely disrupted ISIS command structures, operational coordination and external attack networks.
Other terrorist figures eliminated during the operations, he said, include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP senior leader responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda dissemination; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, a senior ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior member of the ISWAP media production team and close associate of al-Minuki.
The Director of Defence Information explained that the joint strikes further reinforced the Nigerian Armed Forces’ commitment to tracking and eliminating terrorists wherever they operate within the country.
He assured that the joint operations would continue until all elements threatening Nigeria’s security and regional stability were neutralised.
