The leader of Nigerian militant organisation Boko Haram killed himself in a fight against its rival group, Islamic State West Africa Provi...
The leader of Nigerian militant organisation Boko Haram killed himself in a fight against its rival group, Islamic State West Africa Province, AFP reported citing an audioclip obtained on Sunday. The confirmation from the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, came two weeks after reports emerged that Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau had died.
“Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the hereafter to getting humiliated on earth,” said a voice resembling ISWAP leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi. “He killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive.”
Two unidentified persons familiar with al-Barnawi told Reuters, which also had access to the recording, that the voice on the recording was that of the ISWAP leader.
Shekau’s death, however, has not been confirmed by Boko Haram. The Nigerian army has said it was investigating the claim.
Boko Haram is a group that gained attention after abducting more than 270 schoolgirls from Nigeria’s Chibok town in 2014. The kidnappings had sparked a global campaign for the return of the schoolgirls, which was backed by many including former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama. ISWAP was previously a part of Boko Haram but had split in 2016 and pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State.
In the audio, al-Barnawi said that the group had sent out fighters...
