No Foreign Boots on Ground in Al-Minuki’s Elimination, Says DHQ

ABUJA — The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly debunked claims of foreign military boots on the ground during the high-profile operation that led to the elimination of top global Islamic State (ISIS) commander, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, in Borno State.

​Speaking during a monitored television programme on Sunday, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, clarified that the successful operation was executed entirely by Nigerian troops, with the United States military strictly providing vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support.

​”There were no foreign boots on the ground during this operation,” Maj. Gen. Onoja stated. “What we received were intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support, and other force enablers from our partners, particularly the United States.”

​A High-Value Global Target

​The military description paints the operation as a carefully executed precision strike against one of the world’s most elusive terrorist targets. Born in Mainok, Borno State, in 1982, Al-Minuki had risen through the ranks of Boko Haram before pledging allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015.

​According to security dossiers from the United Nations and the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Al-Minuki was considered the global “number two” or director of global operations for ISIS, coordinating funding, weapons development, and media across the Sahel and West Africa regions. He had been placed on international watchlists by Nigeria, the UN, the US, and the European Union, and was directly linked to high-profile atrocities, including the 2018 abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls.

​Clearing Identity Confusion

​Addressing lingering skepticism regarding the terrorist’s death, Maj. Gen. Onoja revealed that earlier reports from April 2024 claiming Al-Minuki had been killed were cases of mistaken identity.

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​The military explained that jihadist groups in the Lake Chad Basin frequently use identical aliases, names, and noms de guerre as a deliberate indoctrination and evasion strategy. However, the DHQ expressed absolute certainty regarding this latest operation, noting that months of tracking, technical surveillance, and communications monitoring—which began in December 2025—positively confirmed his identity before the kinetic strike was authorised.

​”This individual used multiple aliases to evade detection for years,” Onoja said. “We are happy to state that due to our troops’ professionalism, there was no loss of life on our side.”

​Pressure on Remaining Terror Enclaves

​The operation, which reportedly took place in the Metele region of Borno State, has drawn widespread reactions. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, recently cautioned President Bola Tinubu against relying blindly on foreign security narratives regarding international terror networks, urging the administration to maintain a thoroughly independent security apparatus.

​Responding to these dynamics, the DHQ reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships but maintained that local forces remain the spearhead of domestic defense. Maj. Gen. Onoja sent a clear warning to other prominent criminal and insurgent figures currently under active military surveillance, specifically naming the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji.

​”He cannot hide forever. It is only a matter of time,” the military spokesperson warned.

​Concluding his brief, Onoja urged Nigerian citizens to actively support ongoing operations by providing timely, actionable intelligence to security agencies. He re-emphasized the military’s strict stance against ransom payments, warning that financial concessions to kidnappers and bandits only serve to strengthen criminal networks and prolong the security challenges facing the country.