Al-Minuki: Details of military operation revealed; no fatalities among troops – Defence Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed that no Nigerian soldiers lost their lives during the operation that resulted in the elimination of terrorist commander Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, according to Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director, Defence Media Operations.

In a television interview, Onoja revealed that months of gathering intelligence ultimately led troops to the terrorist's exact location, allowing for a precise strike.

Onoja explained that the final operation was only launched after commanders had confirmed credible intelligence, highlighting the careful planning that went into the mission.

Regarding foreign support, Onoja stated that no foreign soldiers participated in the mission, with the United States only providing intelligence and surveillance assistance.

He emphasized that "there were no foreign boots on the ground during this operation," and that the support received was limited to "intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support and other force enablers."

Contrary to this, anonymous officials told the New York Times that the US military had initially aimed to capture the ISIS leader, Al-Minuki, but ultimately killed him in an air strike when he refused to surrender.

The air strike targeted Al-Minuki's compound in the Lake Chad Basin, and was carried out by around two dozen Nigerian and American special operations commandos, including members of the Navy's SEAL Team 6.

The commandos attacked Al-Minuki and approximately three dozen fighters on two small islands in Lake Chad, with the operation involving a coordinated air-and-ground assault on the area.

Nigerian forces, working alongside their US counterparts, blocked escape routes, secured the perimeter, and supported extraction operations, according to the sources.

The fight lasted for over three hours, and analysts are currently examining gadgets recovered from the operation, the sources added.

Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja described the mission as a "carefully executed precision strike" against a high-value terrorist target, reflecting the professionalism, discipline, and tactical readiness of the troops involved.

Onoja attributed the lack of soldier casualties to the troops' professionalism, stating "we are happy to state that due to our troops' professionalism, there was no loss of life on our side."

The mission was planned through detailed intelligence and close operational coordination, according to Onoja, who also clarified that earlier reports of Al-Minuki's death in 2024 were based on mistaken identity.

Onoja explained that the man neutralized was the original Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, who used multiple aliases to evade detection for years, and had been on international watchlists for a long time.

Security records linked the commander to several global monitoring agencies, including the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Nigeria, Onoja added.

Nigeria would continue to strengthen strategic security partnerships against terrorism, according to Onoja, who also mentioned that other notorious terrorist leaders, including wanted bandit leader Bello Turji, remained under active surveillance.

Onoja warned that ransom payments often strengthen criminal networks and prolong insecurity, and urged citizens to support military operations with timely information, stating "he cannot hide forever, it is only a matter of time."

The military remains determined to restore peace across affected communities in Nigeria, Onoja reaffirmed.