The National Coalition for Peace and Democracy has said the neutralisation of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, a senior Islamic State-linked commander, demonstrates that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy is producing measurable results and strengthening regional security operations.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the coalition’s president, Dr Moses Okella, said the operation reflected improved intelligence coordination, operational capacity, and combat effectiveness within Nigeria’s security architecture under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.

Okella said the success of the mission should not be downplayed by international commentary, insisting that Nigerian security forces played a central role in the operation.

“This operation represents far more than the elimination of a terrorist figure,” he said. “It is a powerful demonstration of the growing capacity, professionalism, intelligence depth and operational coordination of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

He added that Nigerian intelligence units, air and ground forces, and frontline troops were “central to this mission,” stressing that while international cooperation was important, Nigeria remained the principal actor.

According to him, the operation highlights the increasing integration of Nigeria’s security institutions, particularly in intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics, and rapid response coordination.

“For years, one of the major challenges was fragmentation among security agencies. What we are seeing now is a more coherent security architecture,” he said, adding that the elimination of Al-Minuki reflects this “evolution in capability.”

The coalition also commended the Ministry of Defence, service chiefs, and intelligence agencies for improved inter-agency coordination, describing it as critical to recent operational gains across multiple theatres of conflict.

Okella further praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining political support for counter-terrorism operations while strengthening international partnerships.

“The President has consistently maintained that modern security challenges require cooperation among nations,” he said. “However, cooperation must never erase ownership. Nigeria was the principal actor.”

The group described Al-Minuki as one of the most dangerous Islamic State operatives in Africa, with influence across the Lake Chad Basin and parts of the Sahel region. It said his elimination would weaken extremist command structures, disrupt recruitment channels, and degrade terrorist financing networks.

“Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki was not an ordinary insurgent commander. His elimination sends a clear message that terrorist leaders are no longer beyond reach,” Okella said.

While hailing the operation as a significant breakthrough, the coalition warned that the fight against terrorism was not yet over, calling for continued investment in military technology, intelligence systems, troop welfare, and regional cooperation across the Lake Chad Basin.

It also urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence and avoiding narratives that could undermine morale, stressing that long-term peace would require both security action and socio-economic development to prevent extremist recruitment.