For many Nigerians, Friday’s announcement by US President Donald Trump sounded like a major breakthrough in the global war against terrorism.
Trump declared that Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described as ISIS’ second-in-command globally and one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, had been eliminated in a joint operation involving American and Nigerian forces.
President Bola Tinubu quickly followed with his own statement, praising the operation and thanking the United States for its partnership.
But amid the celebration and triumphant headlines, an uncomfortable question resurfaced:
Wasn’t Al-Minuki already declared dead by the Nigerian military two years ago?
That question has now reopened an old wound in Nigeria’s counterterrorism communication strategy one that has repeatedly damaged public confidence in official security narratives.
Back in March 2024, the Defence Headquarters publicly announced that Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki had been killed during military operations carried out between January and March of that year.
At the time, then Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, told journalists in Abuja that the terrorist commander also known as Abubakar Mainok had been neutralised on February 21, 2024.
Buba described him as a notorious ISIS-linked commander operating around Birnin Gwari forest and along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
The military did not present the announcement as speculation. It was delivered confidently, alongside statistics of terrorists killed, suspects arrested, hostages rescued, and weapons recovered.
Now, in 2026, Trump and Tinubu are announcing the killing of the same man again.
Naturally, Nigerians are asking questions.
Was the military wrong in 2024? Was another commander mistaken for Al-Minuki? Or did authorities knowingly rush out unverified information in a bid to score a public relations victory?
Whatever the explanation may be, the contradiction highlights a deeper credibility problem that has followed Nigeria’s security agencies for years.
And perhaps no case captures that history better than that of Abubakar Shekau.
For years, Nigerians repeatedly heard announcements that the dreaded Boko Haram leader had been killed. In some cases, military authorities said he was dead. In others, they said he was “fatally wounded.”
Yet, almost every time, Shekau resurfaced in fresh videos mocking the government and embarrassing the military establishment.
At one point, military authorities even argued that “Shekau” was not one person but a title passed from one leader to another an explanation many Nigerians struggled to accept.
The repeated contradictions created skepticism that never truly disappeared.
So when another notorious terror figure is announced dead for the second time, many Nigerians are no longer reacting with certainty. They are reacting with doubt.
This is the real danger.
Counterterrorism is not only fought with bullets and airstrikes. It is also fought with public trust, intelligence credibility, and confidence in state institutions.
Once citizens begin to question official security information, every future announcement becomes vulnerable to suspicion.
Even genuine victories become difficult for the public to fully believe.
The issue goes beyond Al-Minuki.
In recent months alone, the military has faced pushback over controversial claims surrounding attacks, rescue operations, and civilian casualties.
In Kaduna, community leaders disputed Army claims that kidnapped worshippers had been rescued after an Easter attack.
In Abuja, family members and eyewitnesses challenged the military’s account of how a corps member allegedly died in “crossfire,” insisting he was shot inside his room.
These incidents may appear isolated, but together they are creating a pattern that weakens institutional credibility.
Security analyst who spoke anonymous captured the concern clearly when he warned that inconsistent military communication is eroding public confidence and creating confusion around counterinsurgency efforts.
And he is right.
The Nigerian military has undoubtedly made sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Thousands of soldiers have risked and in many cases lost their lives defending communities from insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.
Those efforts deserve recognition.
But victories in war should never be exaggerated, rushed, or poorly verified.
Because when governments repeatedly announce deaths that later become questionable, they unintentionally hand propaganda victories to the same terror groups they are trying to defeat.
The Al-Minuki controversy may eventually be explained. Perhaps the military acted on intelligence available at the time in 2024. Perhaps there were operational complexities unknown to the public.
But until authorities provide clarity, the questions will remain.
And in a country battling multiple security crises, trust is one thing the government cannot afford to lose.
