Terrorists abduct 42 schoolchildren in Borno.

…as Nigeria, US forces ‘kill’ ISIS top commander, others

•Trump threatens more strikes

•Inside story of three‑hr raid – Military

By Dapo Akinrefon, Nnamdi Ojiego, Ndahi Marama, Kingsley Omonobi, Henry Umoru, Nkiruka Nnorom and Luminous Jannamike

Nigeria’s security crisis deepened over the weekend after reports of 42 schoolchildren being abducted in Borno State. At the same time, the Nigerian military, in cooperation with United States forces, announced the killing of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, during an overnight operation near Lake Chad.

Earlier, on 25 December 2025, US and Nigerian forces carried out similar strikes against terrorists in Sokoto.

The incidents have highlighted the fragile security situation in the country, with experts warning that extremist groups could retaliate following the death of the ISIS leader. Former President Goodluck Jonathan also expressed concern that Nigerians have become desensitised to the widespread killings and violence.

42 students reportedly abducted

The abduction in Borno occurred only hours after the military announced a joint counter‑terrorism operation that eliminated al‑Minuki, whom American authorities described as the global second‑in‑command of the Islamic State and a key ISWAP figure in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, confirmed that 42 children were taken after Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attacked the Primary and Junior Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) in Mussa, Askira‑Uba Local Government Area. The attackers stormed the schools during early‑morning lessons on Friday, abducting pupils and students, while additional children were seized from nearby homes.

According to the senator, four secondary‑school students—two boys and two girls—were taken, along with 28 primary‑school pupils. A further ten children were kidnapped from residential homes in the community, bringing the total to 42.

Ndume described the event as “barbaric, traumatic and heartbreaking,” noting the despair it has caused among families and residents.

The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army urged the Joint Task Force North‑East, Operation Hadin Kai, and other security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and secure the safe return of the victims.

He also lamented the recent attacks on Bambatsu and Ngadarma communities in the Chibok area, where several residents, including elderly people, were reportedly killed.

For people in Borno and neighbouring communities along the Lake Chad axis, the abduction brings back painful memories of earlier mass kidnappings by Boko Haram, such as the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and other attacks on schools in the North‑East.

Security analysts have warned that schools in remote areas remain vulnerable because of weak security presence, poor infrastructure and ongoing insurgent activity along forest corridors and borders that link Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The Lake Chad raid

While Borno communities were coping with the new terror attack, the military announced what it called one of the most significant counter‑terrorism victories in the North‑East theatre in recent years.

Military officials said the operation targeting Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki began at about 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and concluded around 4 a.m., involving coordinated air and ground assaults on insurgent enclaves near Metele in Borno State.

The operation followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance involving Nigerian troops and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Intelligence confirmed that al‑Minuki and members of his international terrorist network had established a concealed and fortified base on the fringes of Lake Chad.

Special Forces were deployed to block escape routes, secure the operational zone and support air assets involved in the strikes.

Multiple air platforms operated in a synchronized air‑land configuration, leaving the terrorists with no escape path.

The operation was carried out without casualties or loss of equipment on the part of Nigerian and allied forces.

Al‑Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al‑Mainuki, was designated a global terrorist by the United States Department of State in June 2023 under Executive Order 13224 for allegedly coordinating ISIS operations and funding channels across the Sahel and Lake Chad region.

Military officials described his elimination as the most consequential counter‑terrorism outcome recorded since the launch of Operation Hadin Kai.

Trump threatens more strikes

United States President Donald Trump praised the operation and the growing partnership between American and Nigerian forces in the fight against terrorism, while hinting at additional strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said US and Nigerian troops carried out a successful mission that eliminated al‑Minuki.

Hours later, he shared a video featuring Plateau‑based cleric Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, who has repeatedly appealed to Washington over insecurity and attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

In the accompanying post, Trump wrote that “more is coming,” suggesting further operations against ISIS‑linked groups in Nigeria may follow.

President Bola Tinubu also welcomed the development, describing the operation as a major milestone in efforts to dismantle transnational terror networks threatening Nigeria and the wider Sahel region