By Zainab Bakare
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified concerns surrounding the recent neutralisation of a high-profile terrorist commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, during a joint operation conducted with the United States Africa Command on May 16, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the military addressed public reactions and media reports suggesting that a terrorist commander bearing the same name had previously been eliminated in a 2024 operation.
According to the DHQ, the reports have understandably raised questions regarding the identity of the terrorist recently killed.
The military, however, explained that the use of similar or identical names, aliases, and nom de guerres is common among fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram insurgent groups across the North-East and Lake Chad Basin region.
It notes that the practice forms part of the terrorist groups’ indoctrination strategy aimed at concealing identities and complicating intelligence tracking efforts.
“This fact has been established over the years in the course of counter-terrorism operations in the North-East of Nigeria,” the statement said.
The DHQ further stated that the Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki eliminated on May 16, 2026, had been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance as a senior global operative within the Islamic State network.
According to the military, the terrorist commander maintained direct links to international terrorist coordination, funding, and operations across the Sahel region.
“There is therefore no ambiguity in his identity,” the statement added.
The Defence Headquarters described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, reaffirming the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and its international partners to dismantling terrorist networks operating within the region.
It also urge members of the public and the media to rely on verified information released through official channels in order to avoid confusion arising from similarities in terrorist aliases and code names.
