Only Nigerian soldiers undertook the operation that killed terrorist commander, Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, spokesperson of Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, has declared.
Onoja revealed this when he fielded questions in television programme where he gave update on the operation.
He said all the United States did was only to provide intelligence and surveillance assistance.
According to Onoja, “there were no foreign boots on the ground during this operation. What we received were intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support and other force enablers.”
The Defence spokesperson said the operation was carefully executed, adding that the operation reflected the professionalism, discipline and tactical readiness of troops involved.
He said the operation was planned through detailed intelligence and close operational coordination, adding that initial reports about Al-Minuki’s death in 2024 were based on mistaken identity.
Onoja said the man killed was the original Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, who used multiple aliases, adding that the aliases helped the terrorist evade detection for years.
“This individual has been on international watchlists for a very long time,” he said, adding added that records linked the commander to several global monitoring agencies.
“These include the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Nigeria,” he added.
Onoja said months of intelligence gathering led troops to the terrorist’s exact location.
