Trump’s Claim On ISIS Commander False, Don’t Rely On It – Falana Tells Tinubu

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused President Donald Trump of being insincere on the death of an ISIS Commander, Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki.

US President Donald Trump had announced the killing of the commander whom he described as the “most active terrorist in the world”.

President Bola Tinubu also confirmed the killing, saying Al-Manuki was killed in a joint Nigerian-American counterterrorism operation.

The Nigerian leader had said he looked forward to more collaboration with the US.

However, Daily Trust spotted that two years ago, the Defence Headquarters listed Al-Manuki among terrorists neutralised between January and March 2024.

Addressing journalists at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, then Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, had described Minuki as head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP).

According to Buba, Minuki popularly known as Abubakar Mainok among his criminal gang members, operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway.

The former Defence spokesman said the terror commander was killed on February 21, 2024.

Buba had claimed that over 50 combatants which included Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu, among several others, were all killed within that period.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Falana said the terrorist leader had been announced killed in 2024 by Nigerian troops, contrary to the statement made by President Trump and later confirmed by President Tinubu.

“Our attention has been drawn to President Bola Tinubu’s confirmation of President Donald Trump’s claim that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki has just been killed.”

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Tinubu should contact the Defence Headquarters on the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki and other terrorists instead of relying on President Donald Trump’s erroneous claims on the prosecution of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.

“Contrary to Mr Trump’s misleading claim, the dangerous terrorist, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, was killed in 2024 by the patriotic armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The killing of the wanted terrorist was announced by the Defence Headquarters and published by the print and electronic media in Nigeria.

“Instead of relying on a foreign regime that cannot stop the reckless massacre of thousands of its citizens, including children, in gun violence and gun-related deaths, the Federal Government should adequately equip and maintain the armed forces in line with Section 217(2) of the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.