DHQ Says 175 ISIS Fighters Killed in Joint Nigeria-US Strikes, Top Commanders Among Dead

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that 175 ISIS fighters, including several high-ranking commanders, have been eliminated in ongoing joint counterterrorism operations between Nigerian troops and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in the Northeast.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, the military disclosed that the updated assessment as of May 19 showed 175 militants had been killed through sustained ground and air assaults.

Top Commanders Killed

Among those killed is Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as “one of the most significant ISIS operatives globally.” According to the DHQ, al-Minuki played a strategic role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning targeting Nigerians and civilians worldwide.

“His death severely disrupts ISIS command structure, operational coordination, and external attack networks,” the military stated.

Other commanders eliminated include Abd-al Wahhab, an ISWAP commander responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, a senior ISWAP member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media production manager and close associate of al-Minuki.

The joint operations also destroyed terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment, and financial networks used to sustain insurgent activities.

On Monday, the DHQ and AFRICOM had confirmed the killing of 20 ISIS fighters in the Marte axis during coordinated ground-air operations. The latest tally represents a significant escalation in the joint offensive, which began just days ago.

Sources: The Nation, Washington Post/AP, Al Jazeera, PM News