On Saturday, May 16, the Presidency affirmed the reported death of a high-ranking commander from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, maintaining that the Nigerian-American operation which focused on him was grounded in thorough intelligence collection and several levels of confirmation.
The clarification came as doubts increased regarding the reports of Al-Manuki’s death, with critics casting doubt on the claim after his name had earlier appeared on lists of insurgent leaders reportedly killed in military operations in 2024.
In a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency characterized the controversy as an indication of the gap between public doubt and the current practices of counter-terrorism efforts.
The statement mentioned that intelligence evaluations had later confirmed that the Birnin Gwari region was never part of Al-Manuki’s recognized area of operation, challenging the validity of the earlier assertion.
Security officials revealed that, in contrast to previous reports, the most recent operation resulted from extended Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which were backed by communication tracking and phone interceptions that began in December 2025.
As per the reports, the operation was based on several months of online monitoring, collection of human intelligence, and mapping of movements in important areas of northern Nigeria.
The administration stated that security forces had first aimed to capture the rebel leader alive, which explains why he was reportedly monitored in various places, including Abuja and Maiduguri, prior to the last operation.
It mentioned that intelligence teams applied pressure on the target while preventing early revelation of the operation.
“Contrary to the earlier report, security officials state that the most recent attack was carried out with a much greater level of accuracy, target verification, and cross-source intelligence validation,” the statement noted.
It mentioned that several levels of verification took place before approving the final kinetic operation, setting it apart from previous instances where battlefield evaluations later needed adjustment.
“In their evaluation, this time there is no uncertainty,” the statement noted.
In response to comparisons with earlier global counterterrorism events where insurgent leaders were initially declared dead but later reappeared, the Presidency stated that these past instances should not be used to undermine every verified military operation.
It highlighted that contemporary counterterrorism operations frequently deal with challenging landscapes, rebel groups functioning under various identities, and intentional disinformation strategies.
The statement referenced previous instances where the deaths of extremist leaders were initially questioned before being confirmed, portraying these events as proof of the changing aspects of intelligence work rather than as shortcomings.
The leadership cautioned that rejecting legitimate military actions might erode public trust in current counterterrorism initiatives and impact the motivation of those involved.
It emphasized that Nigerian troops and their global intelligence allies function in one of the world’s most challenging insurgent scenarios, where verification procedures are intentionally rigorous prior to any public declarations.
Acknowledging the role of public oversight in ensuring democratic responsibility, the Presidency warned against what it described as hasty dismissal of military assertions.
“For the time being, military officials continue to hold their ground: the most recent operation aimed at Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki marks a confirmed, intelligence-based achievement in targeting a high-ranking member of the Islamic State network,” the statement noted.
It stated, ‘This time, they are completely sure’.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
