The Federal Government has defended the reported killing of a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, insisting that the latest operation was credible, intelligence-driven and free of ambiguity.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, authorities dismissed growing scepticism surrounding the operation, describing such reactions as premature and not reflective of the full operational context.
The statement acknowledged that Al-Manuki’s name had previously appeared among insurgent commanders reportedly killed in 2024 during operations around Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State. However, officials clarified that the earlier report was due to mistaken identity, noting that the area was outside the terrorist’s known operational zone.
According to security sources, the latest operation followed months of intensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), supported by communications tracking and phone intercepts dating back to December 2025.
Officials said the mission was built on sustained intelligence gathering, including digital monitoring and human intelligence, which helped trace the commander’s movements across parts of northern Nigeria.
They revealed that initial efforts were aimed at capturing Al-Manuki alive, with surveillance reportedly tracking him in locations such as Abuja and Maiduguri shortly before the final strike.
The government stressed that, unlike earlier claims, the recent operation involved multiple layers of verification and target confirmation before execution, making it significantly more precise and reliable.
“This time, there is no ambiguity,” the statement noted, adding that the operation was backed by multi-source intelligence and careful validation.
While critics have referenced past instances where high-profile террорист leaders were wrongly declared dead, officials cautioned against using such cases to discredit verified operations.
They cited examples from global counterterrorism efforts, including initial false reports surrounding the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose killing was only confirmed years later, to illustrate the complexities of intelligence work in asymmetric warfare.
The government emphasised that Nigeria’s armed forces, working with international partners, operate in a highly complex environment where insurgents frequently use aliases, move across borders and blend into civilian populations.
It warned that undermining credible military operations could weaken public confidence, affect troop morale and disrupt strategic communication in the fight against terrorism.
Reaffirming its position, the government maintained that the elimination of Al-Manuki represents a confirmed success against a key figure in the Islamic State network.
Authorities concluded by stating that they are “100 per cent certain” of the outcome of the operation.
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