Army Confirms Slain ISIS Commander Built Fortified Terror Enclave in Borno

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the slain second-in-command of ISIS, operated a concealed and heavily fortified terrorist enclave in Metele, Borno State, before he was killed in a joint military operation involving Nigerian and United States forces.

The operation, carried out under the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, reportedly took place in the early hours of Saturday following what the military described as months of coordinated intelligence gathering and surveillance.

Earlier, United States President Donald Trump announced that al-Minuki was eliminated during a “meticulously planned and very complex” operation conducted jointly by Nigerian and American troops.

Trump described the slain terror leader as “the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” adding that his death would significantly weaken ISIS operations globally.

In a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, the military said intelligence reports had confirmed that al-Minuki and his fighters established a hidden operational base within Sector 3 of the theatre command in Borno State.

According to the statement, the operation commenced at about 12:01 a.m. and ended around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday.

The military said Nigerian and U.S. forces carried out coordinated precision air and ground assaults on the enclave, while Special Forces units were deployed to block escape routes and provide operational support.

“The operation involved several air platforms in a synchronised air-land configuration that left the terrorists with no avenue of escape,” the statement said.

The Army further disclosed that the mission followed “protracted joint intelligence efforts,” including reconnaissance operations and legal intercepts that enabled troops to fully develop and confirm the target location before the strike.

Military authorities said the operation was executed without casualties or loss of equipment, describing it as evidence of “exceptional planning, superior tactical execution and deepening synergy” between Nigerian and U.S. forces in the fight against terrorism.

The military also noted that the operation received authorisation from the highest levels of Nigeria’s military command structure, underscoring what it described as strong institutional coordination behind the mission’s success.