By Evelyn Usman
The reported neutralisation of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally and one of the most influential commanders of ISWAP, along with scores of other terrorists, through a joint operation involving the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the United States military, represents an extraordinary milestone in the counter-terrorism war, a former Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman(retd) has declared.
Brigadier General Usman, in a statement made available to Vanguard, described the precision air-land operation conducted at Metele in Borno State under the auspices of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, in close collaboration with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), as a feat that “may well be remembered as one of the most consequential counter-terrorism successes in our national history.”
He said: “If indeed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki occupied the exalted but ignoble operational position attributed to him within the ISIS global network, then his elimination sends a clear message to terrorist organisations everywhere: there will be no sanctuary for those who orchestrate violence against innocent populations and sovereign nations.”
Usman, who is also a strategic communication expert, said the operation was the culmination of “painstaking intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and operational planning,” adding that such coordination “demonstrates the increasing sophistication and maturity of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts.”
However, he warned that while the development deserves celebration, it must not lead to complacency, noting that ” history teaches us that terrorist groups are adaptive, opportunistic and often quick to regenerate leadership structures after suffering battlefield setbacks.
“Therefore, the elimination of a major commander and a handful of his loyalists, however significant, must be viewed as a strategic opportunity to intensify and consolidate gains rather than a signal of mission accomplished”.
No time for complacency
He called on the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Operation HADIN KAI and the Multinational Joint Task Force to “seize this momentum to relentlessly pursue remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP elements across the Lake Chad Basin, Mandara Mountains and anywhere else.
Praise for Tinubu, Trump
Usman commended President Bola Tinubu for providing what he described as strategic leadership and political support to the Armed Forces, noting that his public acknowledgement of the operation and appreciation of international collaboration demonstrates “a leadership posture committed to national security and international partnerships.”
He also acknowledged the role of the United States government, saying the commendation reportedly issued by President Donald Trump on the operation “reinforces the importance of international solidarity in defeating violent extremism.
“The reported cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, therefore, serves as a worthy model of strategic partnership in confronting shared security challenges,” he added.
Citizens must join fight
The former Army spokesman equally tasked Nigerians to recognise that the fight against insurgency “is not the sole responsibility of the military or the security forces alone. Citizens have important roles to play through vigilance, information sharing, community resilience and support for lawful authorities.
“Intelligence provided by local communities has repeatedly proven decisive in disrupting terrorist activities. Communities must therefore reject fear and refuse to provide shelter, sympathy or logistical support to violent extremists,” he said.
He also called for deeper collaboration with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad and the Niger Republic,under the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force, stressing that “terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin is regional in character and therefore demands regional solutions.”
Posterity will remember them
Usman, who noted that he took part in the counterinsurgency efforts, said he remained “cautiously optimistic” that the destruction of Boko Haram and ISWAP is possible.
He said: “Other nations have confronted seemingly intractable terrorist threats and prevailed through persistence, coordination, technological superiority, political will and public support.
“The present military and security architecture leadership and the brave troops on the frontlines have before them a historic opportunity. Posterity would remember them favourably if, in their time, they achieve what many Nigerians have long prayed for: the complete dismantling of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents and terror networks and the restoration of enduring peace to the North East and beyond.”
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