The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified reports surrounding the recent neutralisation of terrorist commander Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki during a joint military operation conducted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States Africa Command on May 16, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the DHQ explained that public concerns arose following media reports referencing a similar operation in 2024 involving a terrorist commander bearing the same name.
According to the military, the development has generated questions regarding whether the individual recently killed was the same person earlier reported neutralised.
The DHQ stated that the use of identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is common among fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram across the North-East and the Lake Chad Basin region.
It noted that the practice forms part of the terrorist groups’ indoctrination strategy aimed at concealing identities and complicating intelligence tracking during counter-terrorism operations.
The statement further disclosed that the Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki eliminated in the latest operation was positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance as a senior global operative within the Islamic State network, with direct involvement in international terrorist coordination, funding and operations across the Sahel region.
“There is therefore no ambiguity in his identity,” the DHQ stated, describing the operation as a major milestone in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment, in collaboration with the United States, to dismantling terrorist networks and maintaining regional security.
The military also urged the public and media organisations to rely solely on official channels for verified information in order to avoid confusion arising from similarities in terrorist aliases and identities.
