'Not same Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki killed in 2024' - DHQ clarifies identity of dead ISWAP commander

Author: John Owen NwachukwuPublished on: May 16, 2026Country: Nigeria

Crime & Law

'Not same Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki killed in 2024' - DHQ clarifies identity of dead ISWAP commander

The Defence Headquarters clarified that the terrorist commander Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, killed on May 16, 2026, during a joint operation with the United States Africa Command, is a senior operative within the Islamic State network. Media outlets had confused this incident with a 2024 operation involving a commander with the same name. The DHQ emphasized that the use of similar names among terrorists is a deliberate strategy to obscure identities. The operation marks a significant advancement in Nigeria's counter-terrorism initiatives.

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