Tinubu Govt Reaffirms Killing Of ISWAP Commander Al-Manuki On Friday, Claims It Was After Months Of 'Persistent Trailing' | Sahara Reporters

Onanuga said criticism of the operation reflects a gap between public perception and operational realities.

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has defended the reported killing of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki — also known as Abu-Mainok or Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki — saying the operation was the result of months of coordinated intelligence work and should not be dismissed as speculation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reacted to growing scepticism surrounding the reported elimination of the insurgent leader in a post on X, describing the controversy as “needless” and driven by a misunderstanding of modern counterterrorism operations.

Onanuga said criticism of the operation reflects a gap between public perception and operational realities.

“The needless controversy trailing the reported elimination of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki… has once again exposed the gulf between the public sceptics and the realities of modern counterterrorism operations,” he wrote.