Shekau is dead, says ISWAP

The Islamic State, West African Province (ISWAP) has confirmed that former Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, blew himself up after refusing to surrender following the invasion of his hideout on Wednesday, May 19.

This was contained in an internal message from ISWAP leader, Abu Musab Albarnawi, whose recording was obtained by HumAngle on Friday.

message from ISWAP leader, Abu Musab Albarnawi, whose recording was obtained by HumAngle on Friday.

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In his address, which was delivered in Hausa, he described Shekau as “the leader of disobedience and corruption” and said his fighters rejoiced over his death.

He said 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.”

“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),” he said.

The ISWAP, which broke away from Shekau’s Boko Haram faction in 2016, disagreed with the late extremist leader over his excessive use of force, especially on Muslims in areas under his influence.

According to Albarnawi, the interim leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ordered them to take action on Shekau for deviating and killing “believers.”

ISWAP fighters then took their arms, travelled through the Sahara, went into Shekau’s enclave and engaged in a gun battle with his followers.

He initially escaped and roamed the bushes of Sambisa for five days, where he suffered seriously. However, ISWAP fighters were able to locate him. He still managed to run away a second time but was chased down, Albarnawi narrated.

The rival fighters urged him and his followers to repent, assuring him that if the ISIS leader decided to make him their leader after he had surrendered, they would have no choice but to obey.

According to Albarnawi, “Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the afterlife than getting humiliated on earth.” Source: HumAngle.