Nigeria, U.S. air strikes kill 175 ISIS terrorists, top commanders in Northeast

By Ayorinde Oluokun

Nigeria and United States (U.S) forces have so far killed 175 Islamic State terrorists and their commanders in a series of joint air strikes that started few days ago in Northeast Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters revealed this in a statement on Tuesday while giving update in the counterterrorism operation being conducted in coordination with United States Africa Command (Africom) against ISIS terrorists in Northeast Nigeria.

The operations began over the weekend with the killing of several senior ISIS leaders, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki desribed as one of the most significant ISIS operatives in the world.

Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information said in a statement on Tuesday that as of 19 May 2026, assessments indicated that 175 ISIS terrorists have been eliminated from the battlefield.

The joint strikes have resulted in the destruction of ISIS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistical hubs, military equipment and financial networks used to sustain terrorist operations.

He noted that Al-Minuki who was killed in the first day of the operations played a central role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and attack planning targeting Nigerians and innocent civilians around the world.

“His death severely disrupts ISIS command, operational coordination and external attack networks”

He listed other leaders of the terrorists who have been killed in the airstrikes to include Abd-al Wahhab, ISWAP senior leader responsible for coordinating attacks and distributing propaganda, Abu Musa al-Mangawi, ISWAP senior member and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, ISWAP senior media production team manager and close confidant to al-Minuki.

“The joint strikes have further reinforced what the Armed Forces of Nigeria have consistently done over the years – hunt down and kill terrorists anywhere they are in Nigeria,” said Uba.

He added that the joint operations will continue to huntdown and destroy those who threaten our nation and regional stability.