Boko Haram’s commander’s fate uncertain amid news of his death

Ahmed Adel

The commander of the ISIS-leaning Boko Haram movement, Abubakar Shekau, has reportedly killed himself by blowing up his explosive belt during a shootout with members of his organization.

The members had also reportedly detained Shekau and wanted him to abdicate his position.

Some ISIS western Africa fighters had broken into Shekau’s stronghold in the northern Nigerian Borno State and forced him to surrender.

However, this is not the first time Shekau is reported to be dead. Rumors about the Boko Haram commander’s death emerged several times in the past years. News about his death this time has not been verified yet.

Meanwhile, a news agency quoted an intelligence source as saying that Shekau had only been seriously injured after he shot himself in the shoulder.

Nevertheless, the Nigerian army announced Shekau’s death, even without mentioning the place of or the reason for his death.

The army also said that it had recently killed a Boko Haram terrorist who claimed to be Shekau.

Shekau was reported to be dead two times in 2009, but this is the first time his death is officially announced by the Nigerian army.

Rumors have been swirling about Shekau since Wednesday. This comes as a large number of intelligence and Nigerian officials accentuate news of his death.

There is information also that ISIS commanders in western Africa are talking about Shekau’s death, following an exchange of fire.

Shekau, they said, had blown himself up to avoid being taken hostage by western Africa’s ISIS fighters.