The Nigerian Armed Forces had officially claimed to have killed Abu Bilal al-Mainuki over two years ago in February 2024 during an operation in Kaduna state, northern Nigeria, PrimeTimes Nigeria understands.
The United States and Nigerian military forces had on Saturday morning reported they successfully eliminated a senior ISIS commander on Friday.
United States President, Donald Trump announced the development in a post on Truth Social.
He described the mission as “flawlessly executed” and “meticulously planned,” targeting what he described as “the most active terrorist in the world.”
The deceased, named Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, was reportedly ISIS’s second-in-command globally. Trump stated, “He will no longer terrorise the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”
Also confirming the operation, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu described it as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region.
“Early assessments confirm the elimination of the wanted IS senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, along with several of his lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin,” the statement read.
However, PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Military had in 2024 claimed to have killed Abu-Mainok in an operation in Kaduna.
On April 4th, 2024, the Defence Headquarters released the names of terrorist kingpins killed during different operations in the northern part of the country.
The DHQ noted that the terrorist commanders were killed in operations between January and March 2024.
The names of the terrorist kingpins were Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) – Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP) and Haruna Isiya Boderi. He was described as a notorious terrorist who operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway. He was killed by troops on 21 Feb 24.
Others were Kachallah Damina (neutralised on March 24 by troops. He was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants), Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu among several others.
The then Director Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, revealed the names to journalists during a briefing in Abuja.
“The above was achieved through synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces on terrorist enclaves. For instance, immediately upon acquisition of vital targets, fighter jets are scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves,” Buba had said.