ISWAP confirms death of its Nigerian-born leader Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki after US strike

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has confirmed that one of its senior commanders, Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki, was killed during a recent military operation reportedly carried out by United States Special Forces in the Lake Chad region of North-East Nigeria.

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In a statement released through its media channels, the group described members of its media unit killed in the raid as “martyrs,” while indirectly acknowledging the death of Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki.

The confirmation comes about two weeks after a reported US special operations raid targeted an ISWAP command-and-media facility deep within the Lake Chad Basin. According to earlier accounts, the operation involved airborne forces supported by surveillance drones, intelligence assets, and precision air support aimed at high-value targets linked to the group.

The militant group claimed that the mission involved a prolonged surveillance effort, alleging that US forces tracked al-Mainuki for months before carrying out a large-scale assault.

It also described the operation as a multi-point airborne landing involving heavy engagement, while portraying the deceased operatives as casualties of what it called a “crusader” attack.

ISWAP further claimed that foreign fighters were among those killed in the strike, alongside individuals associated with the group’s internal media operations. U.S. authorities have not independently confirmed all operational details of the mission.