Chief of Nigerian terror outfit Boko Haram allegedly killed, ISIS action suspected

Abuja: The leader of Nigerian terror outfit Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has been allegedly killed. A few days ago, the African ISIS-related terror outfit had attacked the Boko Haram base. Shekau was severely injured in the attack and is now dead, reported a leading US daily. Moreover, a US official responded to it, saying that if Shekau is, in fact, dead, the development is positive for the anti-terror campaign in Africa.

Boko Haram is recognised as the deadliest terror outfit in Africa. Its network is spread across the countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Boko Haram has established its dominion in Chand Lake and the northeastern part of Nigeria. Boko Haram, known as an Al-Qaeda affiliated outfit, has created its independent identity over the past few years. Besides, a few Boko Haram militants are even said to have joined ISIS later.

Over the last decade, the terrorist attacks launched by Boko Haram have killed over 10,000 people. As a result, millions of Nigerian civilians were displaced. A few years ago, Boko Haram had become popular after the incident of kidnapping hundreds of students surfaced.

Nigeria and other nations claimed to have launched extensive campaigns against Boko Haram time and again. However, despite it, the African countries have not been able to weaken this outfit. Moreover, the Nigerian army had claimed many a time to have killed Boko Haram chief, Shekau. Even so, he was known to be alive.

Against this background, the news of Abubakar Shekau’s death draws much attention. A few days ago, ISIS militants attacked Boko Haram base in Sambisa Forest, North Nigeria. ISIS attempted to capture Shekau during the attack. He allegedly gunned himself down to escape the capture. Thus, Shekau was severely injured and is said to have died. However, the Nigerian authorities have not yet confirmed this news.

Leading US daily ‘The Wallstreet Journal’ has reported Shekau’s death. The daily made the claim, citing various African officials, intelligence agencies and conversations they had phone tapped. The report also mentioned that Shekau detonated the bomb that was strapped around him.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Army chief Ibrahim Attahiru lost his life in an accident near Kaduna airport in Nigeria on Friday. In addition, ten other people travelling with him on the military plane have also died in this accident, an army spokesperson said. Preliminary information indicated he died due to the plane crash as a result of bad weather conditions. Attahiru had assumed his responsibility as the military chief in January.