The Federal Government has defended the reported killing of a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, insisting that the operation was credible, intelligence-driven and free of ambiguity.

In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the government dismissed growing scepticism surrounding the operation, describing such reactions as premature and not reflective of the full operational context.

Authorities admitted that Al-Manuki’s name had earlier appeared among insurgent commanders reportedly killed in 2024 during military operations in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, but clarified that the earlier report was a case of mistaken identity.

According to security sources, the latest operation followed months of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), including communications tracking and phone intercepts dating back to December 2025.

Officials said security operatives initially planned to capture Al-Manuki alive and had tracked his movements in Abuja and Maiduguri before the final strike.

The government stated that the operation involved multiple layers of verification and target confirmation, making it more precise and reliable than previous reports.

“This time, there is no ambiguity,” the statement said, stressing that the mission was backed by multi-source intelligence and careful validation.

The government also cautioned against using past cases of wrongly reported terrorist deaths to discredit verified military operations, noting that similar challenges had occurred in global counterterrorism efforts involving Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Authorities added that Nigeria’s armed forces operate in a difficult environment where insurgents often use aliases, cross borders and hide among civilians.

Reaffirming its position, the government maintained that the elimination of Al-Manuki was a confirmed success against a key figure in the Islamic State network, declaring that it was “100 per cent certain” of the outcome.

Troops of Sector 2 under Operation Hadin Kai have intercepted more than 400 Starlink communication devices allegedly used by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria’s North-East.

The Sector Commander, Beyidi Martins, disclosed this while briefing defence correspondents in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Tuesday.

According to Martins, the devices were recovered during intelligence-led operations across Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle and other terrorist hideouts in the region.

He said the military was targeting terrorist logistics and communication networks to weaken insurgent activities.

“The lifeblood of terrorist activities is logistics resupply, and we are deliberately denying them freedom to move supplies, communication equipment, fuel and other operational items across the theatre,” he said.

Martins explained that terrorists rely on civilian supply chains and collaborators to move food, fuel, drugs, communication gadgets and motorcycle parts into remote camps.

He noted that while some civilians support the insurgents willingly, others do so under threats and intimidation.

The commander added that troops had infiltrated several transport and supply networks linked to the terrorists through intelligence operations targeting transporters, traders and supply syndicates.

He revealed that arrests are being made daily and that security forces have disrupted more than 400 logistics-related operations connected to terrorist activities.

Martins said the ongoing military offensives and strangulation operations had weakened terrorist logistics networks and reduced their operational capacity in the North-East.

He also disclosed that several terrorists and their family members had surrendered following sustained military pressure.

The commander reaffirmed the commitment of troops to intensifying operations aimed at intercepting supply routes and dismantling communication systems supporting insurgency in the region.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security and intelligence coordination.

The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by Chris Ugwuegbulam, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

According to the statement, the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to improving security coordination, boosting intelligence-driven operations, and enhancing collaboration among security agencies to tackle emerging threats across the country.

The statement described Famadewa as a highly experienced military officer with more than three decades of service in national security, intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and international security diplomacy.

It noted that during his time as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, Famadewa played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s intelligence coordination system.

One of his major contributions was the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The centre brought together key security and intelligence agencies including the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces.

The platform was designed to improve intelligence sharing, national threat assessment, and strategic response coordination among security agencies.

After retiring from active military service, Famadewa continued contributing to national security discussions as a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.

He is also the author of the monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which focuses on improving cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that Famadewa’s experience and strategic expertise would help strengthen the administration’s efforts to achieve a safer and more secure Nigeria.

The President also urged the retired general to use his professionalism and wealth of experience to support the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and advance the country’s national security objectives.