The Presidency has defended reports confirming the death of a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, insisting that the operation that led to his elimination was based on extensive intelligence gathering and rigorous verification.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the State House said security agencies were fully convinced that the ISWAP leader had been neutralised, dismissing doubts arising from previous cases of mistaken battlefield claims.

According to the statement, intelligence leading to the operation had been built over several months through coordinated surveillance, intercepted communications, and human intelligence sources beginning in late 2025.

The Presidency explained that authorities deliberately adopted a more thorough verification process following an earlier mix-up in 2024, when Al-Manuki’s name was wrongly associated with insurgent activities around Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State.

Officials clarified that the insurgent commander was never linked operationally to the Birnin Gwari axis and described the earlier report as a misidentification that occurred during ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

The statement stressed that the latest mission differed significantly from previous operations because of the multiple layers of confirmation carried out before the final strike was approved.

It added that intelligence agencies tracked Al-Manuki’s movements across parts of northern Nigeria using Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations, telephone intercepts and human sources.

Security officials reportedly monitored the insurgent leader in different locations, including Abuja and Maiduguri, in the days leading to the operation while efforts were initially focused on the possibility of capturing him alive.

The Presidency also disclosed that international partners, including American intelligence assets, supported the surveillance and verification process that preceded the operation.

According to the statement, security analysts noted that insurgent leaders often operate under false identities, frequently change locations and blend into civilian populations, making confirmation difficult and requiring extensive monitoring.

The State House warned against dismissing verified military operations, saying public scepticism could undermine confidence in ongoing counterterrorism efforts involving Nigerian security agencies and foreign partners.

It further argued that previous intelligence errors should not be interpreted as proof that current assessments are unreliable, describing intelligence gathering as an evolving process that has improved significantly through enhanced surveillance methods and layered verification systems.