RismadarVoice Reporters, May 16, 2026
The Presidency has defended reports surrounding the killing of senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, insisting that the operation was based on months of intelligence gathering and extensive verification, contrary to public doubts surrounding the announcement.
The clarification followed controversy over reports of Al-Manuki’s elimination, with concerns emerging due to previous claims linking the militant leader to earlier military operations.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said public scepticism surrounding the latest development overlooked the complexity and depth of intelligence operations behind the mission.
“This was not a snap judgment. It was months of persistent tracking, layered verification and coordinated action,” Onanuga stated.
According to the Presidency, earlier reports in 2024 that linked Al-Manuki to casualties around Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State were based on mistaken identity caused by what authorities described as “fog-of-war conditions.”
The Presidency stressed that Birnin Gwari was never considered part of the commander’s operational territory and explained that the latest mission relied on sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations, including communications monitoring and phone intercepts initiated as far back as December 2025.
Officials said intelligence assessments were built over several months through digital surveillance, human intelligence and pattern-of-life analysis conducted across northern Nigeria.
Authorities further disclosed that security operatives initially aimed to capture the militant leader alive and had monitored his movements across several locations, including Abuja and Maiduguri, before deciding on the final operation.
“Capturing him alive was our priority. That was why surveillance continued across multiple locations until conditions were suitable for a successful mission,” the statement noted.
Security sources also described the latest operation as significantly different from previous attempts, noting that multiple layers of target validation and confirmation were applied before action was taken.
“We exhausted verification layers before authorising kinetic action. This time there is no ambiguity we are 100 per cent certain,” a security source reportedly stated.
The Presidency added that intelligence operations in insurgency environments often face challenges due to the use of aliases, mobility of fighters and blending with civilian populations, stressing that public confidence should be guided by verified intelligence findings.
It further warned that dismissing confirmed security operations, particularly those involving international cooperation, could undermine military morale and affect ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
The statement reaffirmed that Nigeria’s security agencies continue to operate in one of the most complex counterinsurgency environments globally and urged the public to support verified efforts aimed at combating terrorism.
