The leader of Boko Haram, the world’s 4th deadliest terror group, Abubakar Shekau has been confirmed killed by ISWAP Fighters.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening after an invasion of Sambisa Forest, the headquarters of the group.
Reports say he was first captured by ISWAP following an invasion of the forest by a column of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters who unleashed multiple gun trucks on Boko Haram hideouts.
ISWAP broke away from the Shekau-led Boko Haram faction in 2016 after pledging allegiance to ISIS.
Reports also say that Shekau’s enclave was traced and targeted by ISWAP forces based in the Timbuktu Triangle. His bodyguards were neutralised in the fierce battle which resulted in the capture of the terror leader.
Shekau, thereafter surrendered and engaged in long hours of meetings and negotiations with ISWAP fighters.
He is also alleged to have voluntarily relinquished power and directed his fighters to pledge allegiance to his captors’ authority.
While ISWAP waited for Shekau to issue a statement, he blew himself and everyone present at the negotiations up with a secret suicide vest he wore.
Vanguard Newspapers@vanguardngrnews· has a slightly different account of his death. In a publication on Thursday morning, the newspaper said that, “It was also revealed that Shekau was not actually or directly killed by ISWAP, the splinter rival group, but blew himself up and committed suicide when ISWAP attempted to capture him (Shekau) alive, during a gun duel.”
Details of the casualties are still unclear.
Shekau took the reins of power with Boko Haram in 2009 following the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf.
He has been reported killed at least 4 times between July 2009 and August 2015 earning him the title of the man with 9 lives. On some of the reports, Abubakar #Shekau posts videos debunking rumours of his death.
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