Boko Haram leader Shekau suffers fatal injury in air strike

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has been injured after Nigerian Air force jets bombed insurgents who had gathered for prayers in Balla village the edge of the Sambisa Forest.

The Punch reports that one of Abubakar Shekau’s deputies, among other Boko Haram commanders, was killed in the air strike carried out by two Nigerian Air force jets some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damboa, last Friday, April 28.

“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.

The Guardian reports that another source, Babakura Kolo, a member of the civilian JTF in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, gave a similar account.

“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,” Babakura Kolo said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the death of many suspected leaders of Boko Haram in a recent air strike carried out by Nigeria Air Force fighter jets on locations believed to be hideouts of the deadly insurgents, an official said.