US and Nigeria strike Islamic State targets in northeast as kidnapping crisis deepens
Washington and Abuja coordinate air strikes in restive region while security forces grapple with mass school abduction in the southwest.
The United States and Nigeria conducted joint air strikes against Islamic State group targets in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday, marking a continuation of coordinated military efforts in the region. The Nigerian Defence Headquarters confirmed that at least 20 jihadists were killed during the operation, which US Africa Command described as a response to the observed convergence and migration of terrorist elements.
The strikes occurred two days after a separate joint mission eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the group’s second-in-command worldwide. Al-Minuki, who has been under US sanctions since 2023, provided strategic guidance on media, financial operations, and the development of weapons, explosives, and drones. US President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the latest operation, describing it as a major setback for the IS group.
US Africa Command stated that intelligence confirmed the targets were ISIS militants and that no US or Nigerian forces were harmed during the engagement. The operation follows months of increased US military presence in Nigeria, with hundreds of troops deployed to provide technical support and intelligence sharing. These personnel operate under Nigerian command authority and do not play a direct combat role.
The military activity in the northeast coincides with heightened security concerns in southwestern Nigeria, where 46 people, mostly children, were kidnapped from three schools in Oyo State on Friday. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported the abduction of pupils, students, and staff from Baptist Nursery and Primary in Yawota and two other schools in Esiele. Police described the incident as a coordinated attack that forced the temporary closure of surrounding schools.
Nigeria faces a dual threat from jihadist insurgents, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, and criminal gangs responsible for mass kidnappings. West Africa has become the world's most active zone of Islamist militancy, with Islamic State activity in Africa hitting a record high in the first quarter of 2026 according to the conflict monitor ACLED. An unnamed intelligence source told AFP that al-Minuki’s death could lead to an escalation of attacks from ISWAP against Nigerian military bases in retaliation.
