By Augustine Aminu
On Friday, May 16, 2026, the world was jolted by news of the killing of top commander of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abour Mainok and several other fighters. Also known as Abu Bilal al-Minuki, and considered the second-in-command of ISIL (ISIS) globally, the top terrorist commander was reportedly killed during a joint Nigeria-U.S. Counter Terrorism operation in Metele, Borno State.
Ever since the elimination of al-Minuki, considered one of the biggest blows in recent times to terrorists in the world over, torrents of encomium have been pouring in for the Nigeria -U. S. joint terrorism operations.
Posting on his Truth Social handle, U. S. President Donald Trump, wrote, “Brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,”
Al-Minuki, added President Trump, “thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.”
On his part, President Bola Tinubu stated that both countries had “recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism”.
Early assessments indicate that al-Minuki, along with “several of his lieutenants,” were killed during a strike on his compound in Metele, Borno State,” Tinubu said.
“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” he added. “I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” he added.
A few days after President Trump praised Nigerian Intelligence services for helping to hunt down Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a man he described as “the most active terrorist in the world,” US Air Force General, Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, also spoke glowingly of Nigeria’s Intelligence services.
Remarked Anderson, “The Nigerians have been instrumental throughout the last several months, developing the target, helping us with the Intelligence and providing support. So, it could not have been done by our own Forces. We needed to do that in conjunction with them.”
Security sources who analyzed President Trump’s terse statement, alongside that of the to head of AFRICOM, General Anderson, were quick to point out that the “sources” who kept the United States and Nigerian Armed Forces informed of the movements of al-Minuki and his fighters, may be none other than Nigeria’s Intelligence agencies: the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Interestingly, six days before al-Minuki’s elimination, something crucial to the fight against terrorism happened in one North central town, well over 1,100 kilometres away from Metele, Borno State, where al-Minuki and over 175 of his fighters would meet their Waterloo.
Just as DSS, NIA and DIA operatives were helping US and Nigerian troops monitor the movement of Al-Minuki and his fighters around the Lake Chad region, a set of DSS operatives covertly captured a notorious leader of one of ISWAP’s critical cell in Nigeria . His name is Abdulrahman Ozovieh Muhammad alias Abu Ghozi.
Abu Ghozi, security sources believe, masterminded the December 2020 attack on a military checkpoint in Okene, killing two naval personnel and carting away their weapons.
Additionally, Abu Ghozi is believed to have masterminded the 11th March, 2021 bank robbery at Okuku, in Oda-Atin LGA of Osun State; carried out several attacks on police formations in Okene, Okehi and Adavi LGAs. He didn’t spare security checkpoints along Okene-Auchi, Okene –Kabba and Okene-Ajaokuta roads.
Also believed to be behind several kidnaps, including the October 2025 kidnap of a Chinese national in Okpella, Edo State, during which eight personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were killed, is Abu Ghozi.
In January, 2026, his group reportedly attacked and burnt down the house of the Chief Priest at Uhodo area of Okehi LGA. Members of his suspected terrorist group were, before his arrest by the DSS, reportedly set to attack detention facilities in Kainji and Abuja, to release detained members of their group.
Security sources believe that Abu Ghozi’s capture by DSS officers may have greatly helped the Nigerian Intelligence Services (DSS, NIA and DIA) gather further Intelligence that was ultimately used to nail al-Minuki and his fighters six days later in faraway Metele, Borno State.
No doubt, Nigeria’s Intelligence community and their military counterpart again proved very invaluable to the recent successes in the global fight against terrorism, and helped position Nigeria as a very trusted ally in the fight against terrorism.
For the first time since Nigeria began fighting terrorism circa 2010, the country has now fully turned the heat on terrorists, smoking them.out on a daily basis.. The recent successes recorded shows that with our Armed Forces increasingly relying on the intelligence supplied by the DSS, NIA and DIA, Nigeria will sooner than later overcome her security challenges.
Aminu has been online editor of several newspapers, and lives in Abuja
<<<<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers
IMPOUNDED VEHICLES FOR SALE IN A CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE AUCTION PRICE
WE have BEGING THE ONLION Auctioning OF SEIZED ITEM'S
.ITEMS UP F0R AUCTI0N
1.T0KUNB0 VEHICLES
2.BAGS 0F RICE
3.BAGS 0F C E M E N T
4.VEGETABLE 0IL
5.M0TORCYCLES
6.TRICYCLE
7.BALE OF CL0THES
8.INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINES
9. INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT IS FULL ALLOWED WITH A MINIMUM PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 9 MONTHS!!!
INTERESTED BUYERS SHOULD
CONTACT THE STATE AUCTIONEER.
CUSTOM OFFICER GABRIEL ESHIEMOMOH VIA :- O80✓6739✓9O9O
RICE AVAILABLE FOR SALES ARE :-
Royal umbrella=18,000
Mama Gold=20,000
Royal stallion=18,000
Rising sun=18,000
Special rice=18,000
Mama Africa=18,000
Elephant Gold=18,000
Caprice =20,000
Gallon of oil =9,500
NOTE: TRANSPORTATION CHARGES IS (#1000) which must be paid before we ensure your delivery.
~INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINES
BROTHER INDUSTRIAL #1OO,000
JUKI INDUSTRIAL #95000
EMEL INDUSTRIAL. #95000
SINGER INDUSTRIAL AND MORE
!!CALL NIGERIA Cust0m Service FOR ANY OTHER PRODUCT'S AND YEAR'S!!
SOME CAR LIST BELOW.
Golf 2 3 4 350k __ 500k
TOKUNBO CARS BELOW :�
2008 Corolla Sport 1m
2010 Corolla Sport 1.970m
2012 Corolla Sport 2.980m
Awoof 2009 Lexus RX350 1.5m
2013 Camry XLE – Back Vent AC – V4 – 1.580m
2001 Camry N280k
2003 Camry N520k
2005 Camry LE .680k
2015 Matrix 1.7m
2008 Toyota Camry 1.3m
2012 Camry Sport 2.850m
2014 Rav4 Sport N2.8m
2016 Honda pilot EX 2.4m
2012 Benz E320 N2.4m
1999 Sienna 150k
2006 Lexus RX300 1m
Pegeout 406 Manual AC 720k
2012 Honda CRV EX 2.850m
O15 Honda Accord 2million
2011 Corolla XLE – Alloy + Formica 2.850m
2015 Toyota LandCruiser 3m
2010 Corolla LE 1.8m
2016 RX350 4.1m with Mouse
2018 RX350 5.8m with mouse
202O Toyota Tacoma 6.8m
2013 Avalon Thumbstart 2.5m
2012 Avalon key 2.1m
2012 Pointiac Vibes 2.8m
2011 Benz E230 N2.4m
2017 Sienna CE 2.980m
2016 Sienna XLE 2.550m
2016 Corolla Sport 3.5m
2010 Camry LE 2.350m
2011 Camry LE 2.4m
2018 Lexus GX460 5.4m
2015 Lexus ES350 .4m
2010 Corolla Manual N1.580m
2018 Acura MDX 4.6m
018 Benz C300 3m
017 Benz GL450 5.3m
2018 Benz GL550 5.8m
OI8 Benz GLS 3.8M
2O2O Benz Gls 4.6mill
2006 Rav4 .850k
Awoof 08 Pilot N.750k
2008 Pilot 800k EX
2009 Highlander sport 2.8m
2018 Highlander Limited 3.2m
2012 Rav4 EX Rev Camera + Thumbstart@ 2m
08 Honda Accord N890k
2012 Camry XLE .2m V4
2013 Honda Accord 2.m
2015 Honda Accord N3m
2013 Matrix N1m80k
2012 Honda CRV 900k
2003 Honda Element 550k
2008 Camry 990k
2016 Honda Ridgeline 2.6m
2014 Camry LE 2.750m
2013 Ford Edge SEL 2.9m
2014 Ford Edge SEL .3m
Fresh like toks 2013 Benz E200 N3m
2012 Rav4 1.9m
2014 Kia Cerato 2.m
2015 Benz GLK350 3.5m
2015 Range Rover evogue 6.650m
OI8 Range Rover evogue 8mill
2O2O Range Rover evogue 10m
OI8 Range Rover sports 6.8M
2006 Quest 850k
2008 Kia Rio 800k
2012 Camry Xle 1.680m
O12 Venza .2million
2O22 GX460-N8M
2O14 Venza 3M
2O18 Corolla N6m
O2O LandCruiser 6m
2OI8 LandCruiser 3.9mill
2O2O Prado N5.2m
2OI8 Prado 4mill
2O20 Rav4 N6.2M
2O20 g-wagon N35M
2O21 Hilux 6.8M
OI8 HILUX 3.6m
2O18 Bus 5.850M
Tipper Head 8M
TOKUNBO CARS ABOVE :�