The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to provide clarification following emerging public discourse regarding the recent neutralisation of a high-profile terrorist commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, during a joint operation with the United States Africa Command on 16 May, 2026.
Certain media reports referencing a similar operation in 2024 have mentioned the elimination of a terrorist commander bearing the same name.
This has understandably generated questions about the identity of the individual recently neutralised.
It is important to state that within the North East region and across the Lake Chad Basin, the use of similar or identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is common among ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists.
This is essentially part of their indoctrination program which is aimed at deliberately obscuring identities.
This fact has been established over the years in the course of counter terrorism operations in the North East of Nigeria.
The Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki eliminated on 16 May, 2026 has been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance as a senior global operative within the Islamic State network, with direct links to international terrorist coordination, funding and operations across the Sahel.
There is therefore no ambiguity in his identity.
The strike is a significant milestone in our counter-terrorism efforts.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in partnership with the United States, remain committed to dismantling terrorist networks and will continue to provide verified information through official channels.
The general public and the media are please urged to rely only on these sources to avoid confusion from coincidental name similarities.
SAMAILA UBA
Major General
Director Defence Information
16 May 2026
