By Helen Udo.
Major General Micheal Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations(DDMO), has said the elimination of notorious terrorist commander Al-Minooki is a clear indication that the growing security collaboration between the Nigerian and United States governments is yielding tangible results in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Major General Onoja explained that the successful operation was intelligence driven and carried out by Nigerian troops, while the United States provided critical intelligence support and other strategic assistance.
He clarified that contrary to some public assumptions, there were no American troops physically involved in the operation, stressing that there was “no American boot on the ground” during the strike that eliminated the terrorist leader.
According to him, the partnership model between both countries is built around American intelligence support combined with Nigerian operational deployment and battlefield execution, a framework he said has continued to improve the effectiveness of counter-terrorism operations in the North East.
He disclosed that several months of intensive intelligence collaboration, operational planning, equipment support and personnel resourcing between Nigeria and the United States had begun producing concrete battlefield gains against terrorist groups operating within the region.
He noted that the renewed cooperation, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and the leadership of United States Africa Command, has significantly enhanced Nigeria’s operational effectiveness through improved intelligence sharing, logistics support and capacity building for troops.
Major General Onoja identified the eliminated terrorist as Al-Minooki, also known as Abu Meinok or Abubakar Meinak, describing him as a notorious commander whose death represents one of the first major outcomes of the strengthened partnership between both countries.
“Over the last few months there has been a lot of groundwork pertaining to intelligence, equipment and resourcing of our personnel in the North-East. These are part of the outcomes of this partnership that we are beginning to witness,” Onoja stated during the interview.
He further urged Nigerians to continue trusting the Armed Forces and other security agencies, while advising citizens to stop paying ransom to kidnappers and criminal groups, stressing that such payments only embolden terrorists and fuel insecurity across the country.
