AFRICOM hails deepening defence partnership as coordinated operations intensify pressure on ISIS networks in the Lake Chad Basin

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed that more than 175 Islamic State (ISIS)-linked fighters were killed during a series of coordinated counterterrorism operations conducted with the Nigerian Armed Forces in the North-East.

The operation, carried out between May 16 and May 18, 2026, form part of an ongoing military partnership aimed at dismantling extremist networks and stabilising the volatile Lake Chad Basin region.

AFRICOM described the strikes as a major outcome of sustained security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, underscoring the growing effectiveness of joint military planning, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action on the battlefield.

“In coordination with the Nigerian Armed Forces, our counterterrorism efforts from May 16–18, 2026, eliminated more than 175 ISIS terrorists in Northeastern Nigeria,” the command said in a statement.

It added that the success of the operation reflects months of close collaboration between both militaries. “This operation underscores the exceptional value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and was made possible through the cooperation and coordination of our forces in recent months,” AFRICOM stated.

The command reiterated its commitment to sustained pressure on extremist groups, declaring that both nations would “relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats” in defence of their people and shared interests.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed the operation, describing it as part of a broader offensive strategy to root out insurgents across the North-East. Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the outcome reinforces the military’s long-standing campaign against terrorism.

“The joint strikes have further reinforced what the Armed Forces of Nigeria have consistently done over the years — hunt down and eliminate terrorists wherever they operate within our territory,” Uba said, adding that such operations would continue.

Security analysts view the development as a significant escalation in multinational efforts against ISIS-affiliated groups, which have continued to exploit porous borders and difficult terrain in the region.

The latest collaboration is also expected to boost intelligence cooperation and operational synergy between Nigeria and its international allies as counterterrorism campaigns intensify.

Earlier in May, Nigerian and US forces reportedly killed a senior ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, during a separate joint operation. He was linked to major ISIS activities, including the mass abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State.

The renewed momentum in joint operations signals a more aggressive and coordinated attack against extremist threats in Nigeria’s North-East and the wider Lake Chad Basin.