Abuja [Nigeria], May 17 (ANI): Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following a joint counterterrorism operation that reportedly killed a senior ISIS leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, in northeastern Nigeria.
In an official statement issued from Aso Villa (the State House), Abuja, on Saturday, which was also posted on his official X handle, Tinubu called the overnight mission a 'significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism'.
'Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State,' the Nigerian said.
According to the statement, '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.' Tinubu also thanked US President Donald Trump for Washington's support.
He said, 'Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives.
I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.' The Nigerian leader further added, 'I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.' Meanwhile, the United States African Command said in a post on X that 'last night's operation targeted a significant presence of ISIS fighters in Northeastern Nigeria, eliminating multiple high-value....
