CDS Olufemi Oluyede
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified reports surrounding the recent killing of terrorist commander Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, following public confusion triggered by references to a similar operation conducted in 2024 involving a militant bearing the same name.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba., the DHQ said the terrorist neutralised during a joint operation with the United States Africa Command on May 16, 2026, was a different individual who had already been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance.
According to the military, the use of identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is common among Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters operating within the North East and the wider Lake Chad Basin.
The DHQ explained that the practice forms part of the insurgents’ indoctrination strategy aimed at concealing their true identities and complicating counter-terrorism tracking efforts built over years of military operations in the region.
The clarification also triggered reactions on X, where several users questioned the military’s explanation regarding the repeated appearance of the same terrorist alias in separate operations.
An X user, Uche Martens, wrote, “Liars, tell more lies to cover a lie but Nigerians are wiser now.”
Another user, Romahn, described the development as “a monumental embarrassment,” accusing authorities of attempting to “manufacture a ridiculous press release” after foreign intelligence reportedly exposed inconsistencies in earlier claims.
“Just admit you took credit for what you didn’t do in 2024 and stop insulting our intelligence. Shameless bunch!” the user added.
Meanwhile, another X user, Stanley Jonas, compared the situation with the United States operation, saying, “The USA did it just once and it was not in doubt.”
Despite the criticism, the military maintained that there was “no ambiguity” surrounding the identity of the terrorist commander eliminated in the latest operation.
It noted that the Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki recently neutralised was a senior global operative within the Islamic State network with links to international terrorist coordination, funding and operations across the Sahel region.
The military described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism operations, adding that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue working with international partners, including the United States, to dismantle terrorist networks.
The DHQ also urged the public and media organisations to rely on verified information released through official channels in order to avoid misinformation arising from coincidental similarities in terrorist aliases.
