No fewer than 175 ISIS terrorists have been killed during a fresh counter-terrorism operation between the troops of the Nigerian Military and their United States counterparts.
This was made known on Tuesday by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in a statement released by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Samaila Uba.
According to the DHQ, the latest assessment as of May 19, 2026, showed that 175 ISIS militants had been eliminated from the battlefield through sustained ground and air assaults in the Northeast region of Nigeria.
The statement noted that the operations had also led to the destruction of terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment, and financial networks used to sustain insurgent activities.
It further disclosed that several high-profile terrorist commanders were among those neutralised, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as one of the most significant ISIS operatives globally.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to announce major successes in continuing counterterrorism operations in close coordination with the United States Africa Command against ISIS terrorists in North-East Nigeria.
“It will be recalled that the joint strikes started a few days ago. As of May 19, 2026, assessments indicate that 175 ISIS militants have been eliminated from the battlefield.
“The joint strikes have resulted in the destruction of ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistical hubs, military equipment, and financial networks used to sustain terrorist operations,” the statement said.
The DHQ explained that al-Minuki played a strategic role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning targeting Nigerians and other civilians across the world.
“His death severely disrupts ISIS command structure, operational coordination, and external attack networks,” the military stated.
Other terrorist leaders reportedly killed during the operations include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP commander responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda activities; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, a senior ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media production manager and close associate of al-Minuki.