Army says wife of ‘fatally injured’ Boko Haram factional leader killed in attack

The Nigerian military on Saturday said the wife of Mamman Nur, the factional leader of Boko Haram whom it earlier reported had been “fatally injured”, was among those killed when troops attacked the group’s location in the Lake Chad region.

Many may be reminded of a similar claim by the army in October of 2017, when it said it may have killed the wife of Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, in an airstrike, but without providing any proof to date.

The spokesman of the Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command in Maiduguri, Onyema Nwachukwu, also revealed that about 250 Boko Haram fighters on the side of Mamman Nur (Albarnawi camp) surrendered.

Meanwhile, the statement also warned residents of Kano, Yobe and Jigawa states to be vigilant as some of the dislodged Boko Haram fighters were currently fleeing towards their border villages with an attempt to, “diffuse into the local communities.”

Nwachukwu said the significant success recorded was achieved following sustained “onslaught on Boko Haram terrorists’ enclaves in the Lake Chad region where a factional leader of the group Mamman Nur has suffered grave injury, while one of his wives has been killed in the battle”.

He added that, “Moreso about 250 foot soldiers from the Albarnawy camp have surrendered to Nigerien Authorities due to the devastating artillery and aerial bombardments by Operation Lafiya Dole troops.

Read also: Nigerian Army claims Boko Haram factional leader ‘fatally injured’ in Lake Chad

“Many of the insurgents who fled the onslaught are now taking advantage of the “AMNESTY” offered by the Nigerien government by surrendering to Nigerien Forces,” he said.

The military also said among the insurgents “fleeing from the ongoing offensive are senior and junior commanders in the Albarnawy faction who are now attempting to melt into other communities in and around Kano, Geidam and Gashua axis unnoticed.

“Members of the general public, particularly in Kano, Geidam, Gashua, Hadeja and the northern part of Jigawa are therefore enjoined to be vigilant and watch out for strange faces suddenly appearing in their communities and promptly report same to security agencies”.

Nwachukwu added that about 700 insurgents have also surrendered to troops in the general area of Monguno following troops’ clearance operations, adding that the ongoing onslaught will be “tenaciously sustained”.

The statement recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria had since provided a window of opportunity through the Operation SAFE CORRIDOR programme to insurgents who surrendered willingly to be deradicalised and rehabilitated.

“About 300 insurgents who willingly surrendered are currently benefiting from this programme”, he said.

“We call on all Boko Haram insurgents to abandon the futile struggle and take advantage of the Safe Corridor program by surrendering willingly to troops in any location nearest to them. We guarantee their safety and incorporation into the programme for deradicalisation and rehabilitation,” Nwachukwu said.

The State Security Services, SSS, had in September 2011 placed a N25 million bounty on Nur, blaming him for a car suicide bombing at the UN building in Abuja that year.

In 2014, Nur reportedly broke away from Abubakar Shekau’s command and led the formation of the AbuMussab Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram group.

Albarnawi is said to be the surviving son of Boko Haram’s spiritual founder, Muhammed Yusuf, who was extra-judicially killed by the security forces after he was arrested in 2009.

 

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