The Nigerian Soldiers in collaboration with United States of America (USA) troops have in a joint military operation killed Abubakar Mainok, a top Islamic State commander who was specially designated as a global terrorist” in 2023.
Penpushing reports that the spokesperson for the task force Sani Uba, in a statement said the operation was conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force in the North-east, and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The statement explained that Mainok was killed during a meticulously planned and highly complex precision air-land operation” at Metele, a Borno village bordering Nigeria and Niger in the Lake Chad area.
Penpushing further reports that Uba stated that the operation began at about 12:01 a.m. and ended around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday following what he described as a prolonged intelligence operation involving legal intercept operations and sustained reconnaissance.
The operations spokesperson added that intelligence confirmed Mainok and members of his international terrorist cell had established a concealed and fortified enclave at Metele in Borno State within Sector 3 Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Penpushing also reports that Uba disclosed that subsequent to the confirmed intelligence, the America partners in conjunction with Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), conducted precision air-ground operations on the confirmed location while Special Forces were deployed to provide security and deny escape routes as well as to extract any of the Teams or air platforms in distress.
The spokesperson added that multiple air platforms were deployed in a synchronised air-land configuration that left the terrorists with no avenue of escape, stressing that the operation, was executed after approval from the military high command, reflecting the highest levels of institutional coordination and strategic decision-making.
Penpushing reports that Uba said no personnel or equipment were lost during the mission adding that battle damage assessment was ongoing while troops had commenced “aggressive follow-on exploitation operations” targeting possible splinter groups and preventing regrouping attempts.
“The operation was executed with zero casualties or loss of assets, a testament to the exceptional planning, superior tactical execution and the deepening synergy between Nigerian and US military forces in the global fight against terrorism,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that the army spokesperson said the operation sends an unequivocal message that terrorists will find neither sanctuary nor safety within the North East Theatre.
The army said the deceased played a major role within ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, where he allegedly coordinated international funding and operational directives to terrorist cells operating across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Islands in northern Borno.
Penpushing also reports that the statement said his death represents the single most consequential counter-terrorism outcome in the North East Theatre since the inception of Operation Hadin Kai.
The President of United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump had earlier announced the killing of Mainok, describing him as the second-in-command of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Penpushing reports that similarly, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu confirmed the operation about two hours after Trump’s announcement, affirming that the terror leader was killed in his compound in Lake Chad alongside his lieutenants.
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