The Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) has confirmed the death of the dreaded former leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.
Naija News reports that ISWAP confirmed Shekau’s death in a message from Abu Mus’ab Habeeb Bin Muhammad Bin Yusuf al-Barnawi, born Habib Yusuf, leader of the terrorists.
According to HumAngle, ISWAP confirmed that Shekau blew himself up after refusing to surrender following the invasion of his hideout on May 19, 2021.
Al-Barnawi, in an address on Friday, described Shekau as “the leader of disobedience and corruption.”
He claimed that Boko Haram members rejoiced over Shekau’s death.
He added that the former terrorist leader, who took over after the death of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, was apprehended “in the most humiliating manner.”
Speaking in Hausa, al-Barnawi said: “This was someone who committed unimaginable terrorism. How many has he wasted? How many has he killed? How many has he terrorised? But Allah left him alone and prolonged his life. When it was time, Allah set out brave soldiers after receiving orders from Amirul Muminin [leader of the believers].”
Narrating what transpired, the ISWAP leader said the interim leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ordered them to take action on Shekau for deviating and killing “believers.”
He said fighters then took their arms, traveled through the Sahara, went into Shekau’s enclave, and engaged in a gun battle with his followers.
“Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the afterlife than getting humiliated on earth. He killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive,” he said.
The article was originally published on Nigeria News