DHQ Confirms Identity of ISWAP Commander Killed in 2026

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) issued a clarification regarding the identity of Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, a commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who was neutralized on May 16, 2026. This clarification arose from public discussions and reports that mistakenly linked him to a similar operation in 2024.

The DHQ highlighted that the name Abu Bilal Al-Minuki is an alias commonly used among ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists, which is part of their strategy to obscure identities. The statement also noted that the operation leading to his elimination was a significant achievement in Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts, supported by intelligence and surveillance.

The DHQ reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources to avoid confusion regarding similar names.