Shekau ‘fatally wounded’ in air strike, Army says
Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abubakar Shekau has been ‘fatally wounded’ and other commanders killed in an air strike on the Islamist group’s forest stronghold, Nigerian military said on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed to have killed Shekau in previous raids only for him to appear shortly afterwards in videos.
Shekau was “fatally wounded in the shoulder” during Friday’s raids, said army spokesman Sani Usman in a statement, without giving further details.
Usman also said three Boko Haram commanders – Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman — were confirmed dead with several others wounded.
The claim comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry visits the country for talks likely to focus on the fight against Boko Haram, which launched an uprising in 2009.
Nigerian forces, with the support of regional troops, have recently recaptured swathes of territory lost to the jihadists.
The mysterious Shekau’s fate has been the subject of speculation recently amid claims he had been replaced by Sheikh Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the group’s former spokesman.
Barnawi’s appointment was contained in a magazine issued by the Islamic State group, to which Boko Haram pledged allegiance in March last year.
But only a week later, the shadowy Shekau surfaced in a video posted on social media, ridiculing suggestions of his death and looking more composed and energetic than in previous appearances.
Boko Haram, which seeks to impose a strict Islamic law in Nigeria’s mainly-Muslim north, has killed some 20,000 people and forced at least 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.
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16 Comments
Nigerian Army lies like devil/ Satan. So all; the claim that you killed the man since three years now is not true?. The next story is that he was wounded on the shoulder,hmmm, how do you know him and how do you know he was the one you wounded? Are you one that took him to the hospital for treatment or the doctor of the hospital where he was taken to told you that story? Shameless beer parlor Military.
Well said, they are bunch of liars
“Shameless beer palor military!” Lol! Bros, you have made my day! Your well coined 4-words made me laugh all day long! You must be quite talented with funny words!! Or a damn good “Nigerian jabbing”, this time reserved for the military not politicians!!!
As far as I am concerned, Shekau died two years ago.
Wounded or killed AGAIN?
Killed how many times as reported by same army and now wounded how many times from same sources? Does the nation need prayers and attitudinal changes more than killings?
You’re on point Kester. Lying to oneself is the highest form of foolishness.
Another army propaganda? This Shekau must have nine lives like a cat. He has been reported killed for more than three times now only to reappeared with more violence. If the army with their spy know where this man is, why don’t they arrest him or take him out? Someone is getting pay for doing nothing as Shekau will be on another video in the next few days showing himself healthy and alive. Isn’t it time the army change this bogus informant or stop feeding the public with inaccurate stories?
Thank God he was not ‘Technically wounded’.
He has been technically killed!
We pray one day Nigeria will become a peaceful country again, teeming with so much hope and expectations for a better future for its people. With all its natural and human resources, Nigeria, I believe, will be back on its feet and firmly on the right footing sooner than later.
haahaha,Army said six months ago that boko haram have wiped out of the entire sambisa forest,how come shekau and his gangs are still alive performing spiritual rituals?Army spoke man col.Usman also said three Boko Haram commanders – Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu
and Malam Hamman — were confirmed dead with several others wounded,how com Shekau was only wounded and not killed?why are they Army always missing him?
It says a lot about calibre of our leaders. High ranking Federal Government officials just arbitrarily release information to the world without verification and confirmation. These guys are so ignorant that they don’t even appreciate the reason for the uproar caused by their actions.
The funniest statement by the Nigerian Army is that they claimed that Abubakar Shekau “fatally wounded in the shoulder.” How could a wound in the shoulder be classified as “fatal”
The funniest statement by the Nigerian Army is that they claimed that Abubakar Shekau was “fatally wounded in the shoulder”
Fatality and the Shoulder does not go hand in hand. LIARS
It makes no difference how many shekaus the security services neutralise. I is important that each clone of shehau is neutralise whenever and wherever he/crawls from his stone cave. These cretins will soon run out of clones. Kudos to our patriotic children of Nigeria.
We will review and take appropriate action.