The joint strikes have led to the destruction of ISIS control posts, weapon caches, logistical centers, and military equipment, a military spokesperson said.
The Nigerian army announced Tuesday that 175 ISIS fighters were killed in airstrikes in the northeast of the country conducted jointly with the United States. “175 ISIS militants have been eliminated on the battlefield,” said Samaila Uba, an army spokesperson. He added, “The joint strikes have resulted in the destruction of ISIS control posts, weapon caches, logistical centers, military equipment, and financial networks used to support terrorist operations.”
On Saturday, jihadist leader Abou Bilal al-Minuki, described as “one of the most important agents of ISIS in the world,” was killed in a remote village in the northeast during a joint operation by the two countries. After his death was announced, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu thanked US President Donald Trump for his “unwavering support,” expressing anticipation for “more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the country.”
State of national security emergency
Since 2009, a jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram and its rival, the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap), has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and two million displaced persons in the northeast of Africa’s most populous country, according to the UN. The north of Nigeria is also facing violence from criminal gangs, who frequently carry out attacks on villages and engage in mass kidnappings for ransom.
Boko Haram and Iswap have recently intensified their attacks on villages, police stations, groups of workers such as loggers or fishermen, as well as military bases, resulting in the deaths of several civilians and high-ranking military officials. This surge in deadly attacks and kidnappings prompted the Nigerian president to declare a state of national security emergency in 2025, with the American president threatening military intervention in the country.
Trump claimed that Christians in Nigeria were “persecuted” and victims of a “genocide” carried out by “terrorists,” a statement strongly denied by Abuja and most experts, as the violence generally affects both Christians and Muslims indiscriminately. The US military, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, had previously carried out airstrikes in the state of Sokoto (northwest) targeting ISIS jihadists on Christmas Day. Washington has since deployed around 200 soldiers to Nigeria to support and train its armed forces.
