Air Force kills B’Haram leaders, ‘Shekau’ fatally wounded

The Nigerian Army has announced the killing of several leaders of the violent Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, while its leader, ‘Abubakar Shekau’ was reportedly fatally wounded.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col SK Usman, who added that the Boko Haram commanders were killed in an air raid by the Nigerian Air Force on Friday the 19th of August.

It would be recalled that the killing of Abubakar Shekau has been a major controversy in the war against the insurgent group, with claims by the Army that he has been killed always refuted by the terrorist group.

His alleged death became more credible when the Islamic State, IS, declared Al-Barnawi as the new leader of the group, only for Shekau to ‘resurrect’ through an audio message that he was alive and still in charge of the group.

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Usman’s statement reads: “In what one could describe as the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, we have just confirmed that as a result of the interdiction efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists have been killed while others were fatally wounded.

“The air interdiction took place last week Friday 19th August 2016, while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village, Gombale general area within Sambisa forest, Borno State.

“Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, among others. While their leader, so called “Abubakar Shekau”, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded”.

It is not yet clear if the military has recovered the remains of the dead insurgents to ascertain their true identities and if the fatally wounded ‘Shekau’ would be apprehended.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews…

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