Nigerian Presidency Admits Error in ISIS Commander's Death

The Nigerian presidency admitted to a military error concerning the claim of the death of ISIS Commander Sai Al Manuki. President Bola Tinubu confirmed the killing during a joint Nigerian-American counterterrorism operation.

However, the defense headquarters had previously listed Al Manuki among terrorists neutralized between January and March 2024. Edward Buba, Director of Defense Media Operations, described Al Manuki as a leader of ISWAP's Al Furqan Province, also known as Abubakar Mainok.

The military's earlier claims were met with public skepticism due to past inaccuracies in declaring insurgent leaders dead. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga defended the latest operation, asserting that intelligence gathering is often imperfect and evolves with reality.

The operation was based on coordinated intelligence efforts, including surveillance and phone intercepts, which began in December 2025. The military emphasized that the operation aimed to capture Al Manuki alive, but circumstances led to his reported neutralization.