Boko Haram’s
leader Abubakar Shekau has been injured and one of his deputies killed in an
air strike in northeast Nigeria, civilian and security sources told AFP on
Wednesday.
Two Nigerian
Air Force jets bombarded fighters who had gathered for prayers in Balla
village, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damboa, on the edge of the Sambisa
Forest, last Friday.
“Shekau was
wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the
Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata,” said one source with contacts
within Boko Haram.
“His deputy,
Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba, was killed in the attack along with another
key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha,” he added.
Babakura Kolo,
a member of the civilian militia in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, gave a
similar account, saying “Shekau was injured and a number of commanders were
killed.
“Among them is
his deputy called Malam Abba. They suffered heavy casualties because the
bombings targeted a large gathering of his followers attending Friday prayers.”
There was no
immediate comment from the Nigerian military when contacted by AFP. The
authorities have previously claimed to have killed Shekau on at least three
occasions. (AFP)
0 Comments