Joint Nigeria-US Military Operations Result in Elimination of 175 Terrorists in North-East

The Defence Headquarters has announced a significant victory in the ongoing fight against terrorism, as joint counterterrorism operations conducted by Nigerian troops, in collaboration with the United States Africa Command, have reportedly neutralized 175 ISIS fighters, including a high-ranking global operative. This milestone was disclosed by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, in an operational update shared on Monday, May 19, 2026. According to the statement, the efforts involved a series of meticulously coordinated air and ground strikes across North-East Nigeria. These missions are part of an intensified campaign to dismantle terrorist networks entrenched in the region. The operations specifically targeted various facets of terrorist infrastructure, including their hideouts, checkpoints, weapons depots, supply hubs, and financial systems supporting the insurgency. Among those k!lled was Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as one of ISIS's most significant global figures. Al-Minuki was known for his pivotal role in ISIS’s broader network, handling crucial responsibilities such as funding terrorist activities, recruiting members, organizing logistics, and planning coordinated attacks that extended well beyond Nigeria into other regions. His elimination marks a strategic blow to the operational backbone of the terrorist organization. This remarkable success underscores the effectiveness of international collaboration in combatting terrorism and brings renewed hope for stability in the insurgency-hit areas of North-East Nigeria.