By Ovie Okorie.

The joint Nigerian/U.S. action that took place on Friday night represents another major step in the fight against terrorism networks who are intent on overthrowing governments across West Africa.

The death of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, along with several of his top lieutenants, during a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin demonstrates the capacity and willingness of the Nigeria and the United States to take the fight to terrorist organisations.

Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki was no ordinary terrorist. He had a long and deep involvement with ISIS and Boko Haram rising to become the Head of the General Directorate of States in February 2026 making him one of the most prominent and most influential terrorists in the world. Al-Manuki.

He has directed operations across West Africa resulting in countless deaths of ordinary people and the widespread destruction of homes and livelihoods. He despatched his fighters across Africa, for example to Libya in 2015 and 2016 to further spread his web of terror and violence.

The operation against Al-Manuki demonstrates the deepening commitment by Nigerian and the United States to work together to destroy these groups. This was a complex and well executed operation encompassing strategic support, intelligence sharing and joint operations.

The killing of Al-Manuki will have a major impact on ISIS and wider networks across Africa. These groups thrive not simply because of their ability to recruit, train and deploy fighters in the field against legitimate governments. Rather they need a deep well of support spanning strategic direction, development of extensive logistical support as well as access to financing to ensure their organisations can undertake their murderous action.

The death of a senior leader, with deep experience and links across the terrorist world will create significant disruption to all of this, undermining the ability of these organisations to wage war against ordinary people.

However, it is clear that despite the success of the operation, the war against these terrorist groups must continue to be prosecuted to the fullest extent.

Others will seek to rise up to take his place; there will likely be attempts by ISIS and other groups to seek retribution or prove their capacity to inflict destruction on innocent communities.

But this action represents an important step, demonstrating that leaders of ISIS and other groups are not immune to being successfully targeted. It demonstrates the ability and strength of the Nigerian forces who continue to serve on the front lines in the fight against insurgency and the commitment of U.S. partners to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nigeria and African partners to stop the threat of these groups.

Following the successful visit of the National Security Advisor to Washington last week, it underscores the need for continued commitment to this fight but a recognition that Nigeria will take this fight to terrorist leaders, wherever they are.

This will not be the end of this war but it is a significant step and the brave members of the armed forces of Nigeria and the United States should be commended for their action.

By Ovie Okorie writes from Lagos