Fresh controversy has emerged following the reported killing of senior ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, after records showed the Nigerian military had previously declared him dead in 2024.
The latest announcement came after United States President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed that al-Minuki was killed during a joint counterterrorism operation involving Nigerian and US forces.
Trump described the militant leader as one of the world’s most active terrorists and claimed he served as the global second-in-command of ISIS.
However, military records released in April 2024 by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters had already listed al-Minuki among terrorist commanders neutralised during operations conducted between January and March of that year.
The earlier announcement was made by former Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who identified him as the head of ISIS-linked factions operating in the region.
Responding to growing questions over the contradiction, the Defence Headquarters insisted that the militant killed in the recent operation was a different individual from the one earlier reported dead.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, dismissed the confusion, stating briefly: “Not the same person.”
In a separate statement, Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, described al-Minuki as a key ISIS strategist involved in weapons production, drone development, explosives manufacturing and propaganda operations across several regions.
The military further linked him to the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls abduction and disclosed that he previously operated within Boko Haram before aligning with ISIS in 2015.
Security analysts and retired military officers have reacted differently to the controversy. Retired Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi praised the collaboration between Nigerian and US forces, calling the operation a major success against terrorism.
Another retired officer, Brigadier General Edmin George, said the conflicting reports may have resulted from intelligence gaps or mistaken battlefield assessments during previous military operations.
The development has reignited debate over intelligence accuracy and transparency in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.
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