Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram Leader 'May Be Dead'

Nigeria's militant Islamist leader Abubakar Shekau may have been killed by the security forces during a shoot-out, an army spokesman has said.

An "intelligence report" showed that Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram group, may have died between 25 July and 3 August, Lt-Col Sagir Musa said.

Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009, has not commented on the statement.

The US had put a bounty of $7m (£4.6m) on Shekau's head.

The intelligence report suggested that Shekau was shot on 30 June, when soldiers raided a Boko Haram base at Sambisa Forest in north-eastern Nigeria.

"Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide - a border community in Cameroon for treatment... It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August 2013," Col Musa said.

A video of Shekau, released on 13 August, was "dramatised by an imposter to hoodwink the sect members to continue with the terrorism", he added.

On 14 August, the military said it had killed Boko Haram's second-in-command, Momodu Bama, also known by his alias "Abu Saad".

Correspondents say there is no independent confirmation of Shekau's or Bama's death.

Thousands of people have died since Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009.

A claim in 2009 that Shekau had been killed turned out to be untrue, they add.

He became leader of Boko Haram after its founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody in the same year.

The insurgency became far more brutal under Shekau's leadership, with Boko Haram carrying out a wave of bombings and abductions, including that of foreigners, in its campaign to create an Islamic state across Nigeria, correspondents say.

In May, President Goodluck Jonathan declared an emergency in three north-eastern states, saying the group threatened Nigeria's existence.

Posted: at 19-08-2013 08:01 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Poster waiten be all dis nonsense self,may have died is it news

Posted: at 19-08-2013 08:20 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

I hate the word 'may' atimes, be sure before u post here man >

Posted: at 19-08-2013 08:49 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

kkkk

Posted: at 19-08-2013 09:03 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

Posted: at 19-08-2013 09:24 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

Ok ooo we are still prayin.

Posted: at 19-08-2013 09:47 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

These JTF to me are failure -how many timesheet had told us this man was killed in this very year alone?I wonder that the situation would have be suppose we are wagging war with a neighbouring county & not boo harm

Posted: at 19-08-2013 10:03 PM (10 years ago) | Grande Master

Mtcheew....newsless news

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Posted: at 19-08-2013 10:35 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

alo alo o

Posted: at 19-08-2013 10:56 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

Ok guys let me change the word may to have, meaning that the stupid boko naram leader have died, he died because God is greater than him

Posted: at 19-08-2013 11:01 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac