At least 20 suspected ISIS/ISWAP fighters have been killed in coordinated airstrikes conducted by US-Nigerian forces in Metele area of Borno State, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said.
The DHQ Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the operation targeted concentrations of terrorist elements identified through intelligence surveillance.
Uba said the strikes were launched after “observed convergence and migration of terrorist elements” in the area, adding that the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks in Nigeria’s North-East.
He also confirmed that the strikes followed the neutralisation of an ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, describing the latest action as a continuation of sustained military pressure on extremist groups in the region.
“The ongoing operations follow the neutralisation of ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and are part of sustained efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, remove them from the battlefield and deny the terrorists any safe haven within Nigeria,” the statement read.
Uba reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to protecting the country’s sovereignty, stressing that terror groups would not be allowed operational freedom anywhere in the country.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to aggressively defend the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the nation,” he said.
He added that troops would maintain efforts to track and eliminate threats to civilian populations and national stability.
“There will be no safe haven for all terrorists anywhere in Nigeria,” he stated.
The United States Africa Command (US Africom) also confirmed the operation, saying the “kinetic strikes against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria” were carried out on Sunday in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
According to US Africom, intelligence confirmed that the targets were ISIS militants, adding that assessment of the operation was still ongoing.
It further stated that no Nigerian or US forces were injured during the strikes, while noting that the operation had reduced the group’s capacity to plan attacks.
“The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the U.S. and our partners,” US Africom said.
The development comes days after former US President Donald Trump claimed that ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a “complex mission” involving Nigerian and American forces, a statement that has further drawn attention to the joint operations in the region.
