Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, working in close coordination with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), have killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the Islamic State’s second-in-command globally, in what military authorities describe as the most significant counter-terrorism breakthrough in Nigeria’s North-East insurgency war in recent years.
The high-profile operation, carried out in the early hours of Saturday at Metele in Borno State, also led to the elimination of several senior terrorist commanders and multiple fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), dealing a major blow to extremist networks operating across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, had long been considered one of the most dangerous jihadist figures in Africa. He was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States Department of State in June 2023 for coordinating international financing, logistics, and operational directives for ISIS-affiliated cells across West Africa.
Months of Intelligence Gathering
Military authorities said the operation followed months of coordinated intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance missions, and legal intercept operations which confirmed that the ISIS commander and his associates had established a fortified enclave within the Metele axis of northern Borno.
According to the Headquarters Joint Task Force (Northeast), the assault combined precision air strikes with ground force deployment in a carefully synchronised air-land offensive designed to block escape routes and ensure complete target engagement.
The operation reportedly commenced shortly after midnight and lasted until about 4:00 a.m., involving multiple air platforms and Special Forces units positioned strategically around the target area.
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Military sources disclosed that the mission was authorised by the Military High Command, reflecting what officials described as “the highest levels of strategic coordination” between Nigerian and US security forces.
Notably, no casualties or equipment losses were recorded during the operation, a development the military attributed to extensive planning, tactical precision, and growing operational synergy between both countries in the fight against terrorism.
Security analysts say the killing of Al-Minuki could significantly disrupt ISIS-linked operations in the region, especially given his reported role within ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, the structure responsible for overseeing the group’s international expansion and coordination.
The military added that battle damage assessment operations are still ongoing, while troops have intensified follow-on offensives aimed at dismantling fleeing splinter cells and preventing any regrouping attempts by surviving insurgents.
Trump Commends Joint Mission
In a rare international acknowledgement, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, reportedly commended the success of the joint mission and praised the partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The development comes at a critical time when Nigeria’s military has intensified pressure on insurgent groups operating in the North-East amid renewed concerns over cross-border terrorism, arms trafficking, and extremist expansion across the Sahel corridor.
For residents of Borno and surrounding communities repeatedly devastated by insurgency attacks, the operation may signal a major turning point in ongoing efforts to weaken ISWAP’s operational leadership and restore stability to the region.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, described the mission as a clear message that terrorists would find “neither sanctuary nor safety” within the North-East theatre of operations.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.