Boko Haram leader ‘killed by Nigerian military airstrike’ along with 300 militants
Air Force carried out "the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid" leaving Nigeria's Islamic extremist leader ‘dead’
THE leader of Boko Haram has been killed in the “most unprecedented and spectacular” airstrike, according to Nigerian military.
Islamic extremist leader Abubakar Shekau was said to have died along with 300 militants during the air raid on Friday.
Nigeria’s security forces have at least three times in the past declared that they have killed or fatally wounded Shekau, only to have him resurface in video and audio recordings.
But a statement from army spokesman Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman said Shekau was believed to be “fatally wounded”.
He said: “Boko Haram terrorist commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others."
related stories
Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman added: “While their leader, so-called 'Abubakar Shekau,' is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded.”
A separate Air Force statement said the raid killed 300 militants and was a result of human intelligence and reconnaissance indicating key Boko Haram commanders were gathering for a meeting.
Shekau was believed to be praying on Friday at Taye village in the extremists' Sambisa Forest holdout in northeast Nigeria.
The news came on the same day U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss Islamic extremism and regional security.
Kerry, speaking this morning in northern Sokoto city, made no reference to the army's report.
But he praised the Sultan of Sokoto, spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims, for his work preaching tolerance and bringing together interfaith groups "to do the hard work of pushing back against extremism".
Kerry noted that on Saturday Boko Haram fighters attacked a village near Chibok, killing 10 people and taking 13 girls and women hostage.
Dozens of the kidnapped girls escaped, but 218 remain missing.
The country’s president is under increasing pressure to rescue or negotiate the girls' release, but his spokesman has said officials are wary since previous negotiations failed because they were duped into talks with the wrong people.
Shekau started the uprising in 2009 that has killed 20,000 people, driven more than 2.2 million from their homes, spread across Nigeria's borders and"flung some seven million Nigerians into hunger, thirst, and desperate need".
Boko Haram, which means 'Western education is forbidden', last year pledged allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368