Ambassador Emeni Ibe (JP AP), the President General of respected Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Orashi National Congress, ONC and the National President of the Southern Youths Foundation of Nigeria, has joined in commending the landmark joint counter-terrorism operation of historic significance, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in close coordination with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), for executing a meticulously planned and highly complex precision air-land operation that resulted in the neutralisation of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the Islamic State’s (ISIS) second-in-command globally and the most senior ISWAP commander operating in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region alongside several of his key lieutenants and multiple combatants.
Al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki, was a US-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), designated by the US Department of State on 8th June, 2023, under Executive Order 13224 for his role as a leading official within ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces, through which he channelled international funding and operational guidance to terror cells across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Islands in Northern Borno.
Amb Emeni Ibe said that his elimination represents the single most consequential counter-terrorism outcome in the North East Theatre since the inception of Operation HADIN Kai, which is highly commandable.
He hailed the protracted joint intelligence effort involving legal intercept operations and sustained reconnaissance that achieved full target development and fidelity.
“Our sincere appreciation goes to our military commanders and the troops.
This successful operation sends an unequivocal message that terrorists will find neither sanctuary nor safety within our country. The Government will equally need to provide further incentives and ensure that the troops are highly motivated to achieve more success.”
“On behalf of the Orashi National Congress and Southern Southern Youths Foundation of Nigeria, I say kudos once again to our military commanders, their partners and our troops for this outstanding feat. They must remain focused on completely decimating the terrorists and other criminal elements causing havoc in the North and other places” Amb Ibe stated..