The Nigerian military has said that its internal intelligence suggests that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau might have been killed in a shoot-out with the security forces between 25 July and 3 August this year.

The intelligence source suggested that Shekau was shot on 30 June in an assault against the militants that raided their (Boko Haram) base at Sambisa Forest in north-eastern part of the country.

The Nigerian Defense Ministry said on 14 August that the military in a special operation has successfully killed the deputy commander, Momodu Bama who is also known as Abu Saad and seizing a large amount of ammunition in addition in the same location.

The military also said a You Tube video released on the 13 August by Boko Haram claiming victory against the Nigerian Security Forces and threatening to attack the United States by Abubakar Shekau, was done by an imposter just to encourage other members of the group to continue to carry out their militancy and probably use to cover his death. The United States had put a bounty of $7m on Shekau’s head for information leading to his capture.

But there is however no comment from Boko Haram to deny or confirm the deaths of their commander and deputy commander making people believing that the military intelligence is authentic.

Military spokesman in the northeast, Lt-Col Sagir Musa told reporters in Maiduguri that an intelligence report the military had gathered shows that Shekau may have died between 25 July and 3 August.

“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.

Abubakar Shekau became leader of Boko Haram after its founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody in 2009 in what the group said was a brutal murder of their leader by the police. This incident in particular might have angered the group to take up heavy weapons against the Security Forces and civilians as the Nigerian government did not handled the matter properly then.

Security analysts say Abubakar Shekau’s leadership has seen an intense insurgency from the group with Boko Haram carrying out a wave of bombings and abductions, including that of foreigners.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 3 northern states on May 14, and deployed thousands of troops to halt the insurgency, acknowledging that militants had taken control of some towns and villages in the north.

Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009 which have cost an estimate number of 3,600 lives, and saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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