File photo: ISWAP Terrorist Group
The Islamic State West Africa Province has confirmed the death of one of its top commanders, Abu Bilal al-Mainuki, following a recent joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States special forces around the Lake Chad region in the North-East.
On May 16, United States President Donald Trump and President Bola Tinubu confirmed the killing of ISIS kingpin Al-Mainuki during a joint counterterrorism operation conducted by Nigerian and US forces.
Trump described the slain militant as one of the most active terrorists in the world and claimed he was the second-in-command of ISIS globally, adding that the terrorist leader believed he could evade capture in Africa.
Reacting to Al-Mainuki’s death days after he was killed, ISWAP, in a lengthy statement circulated through its media channels and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, confirmed his death and that of others killed during the operation, describing them as “martyrs.”
