A close bodyguard of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has confirmed the death of the terrorist, according to report by Desert Herald.
According to the paper, Mr. Shekau who many regarded as a lunatic and a bloodthirsty terrorist has committed suicide when it became apparent to him that his forces were overwhelmed and that the mission of the ISWAP led offensive under the leadership of the youthful son of the first leader of the ‘jihadist’ group, late Mohammed Yusuf is to capture him alive.
” This confirmation was done by one of the three closest bodyguards of late Shekau,” the paper disclosed.
The source confided in DH that Shekau’s recording as earlier analysed by this paper was done a day before he killed himself. There was unease in his voice as he was lamenting betrayal from forces, lieutenants he trusted during the recording while also confirming the heavy casualties from his side.
Our source then revealed that few hours after the recording, Shekau realized that he was surrounded and that several of his men deliberately retreated to give easy access to the ISWAP fighters whom are determined to capture him alive.
He also confirmed to DH that contrary to media reports, Shekau has not suffered from any life threatening gunshots prior to his death. Shekau’s decision to blow himself up according to the testimony of the said bodyguard was when the last loyal bodyguard was shot and killed by ISWAP fighters when he was about to go out from the cave.
On realising that they are closed and there is no chances of escape, the Boko Haram leader who is instrumental to the death of over twenty thousand innocent souls and displacements of more than 4 million people committed suicide.
As at the time of filling this Report, DH was reliably told that the ‘victorious’ ISWAP fighters and other surviving Boko Haram insurgents after they confirmed that Shekau has killed himself have agreed on ceasefire and are currently holding meeting primarily to merge the group.
ISWAP are reportedly not happy with the late Shekau for his policy of indiscriminate killings of people, assault on innocent communities and targeted killings of top commanders of the group he regarded as threat to his power and authority hence their decision to form a splinter group (ISWAP) that became more organized than his Boko Haram.
The source told DH that instances of rampant killings of mostly poor people and attacks that characterize the conduct of Boko Haram under Shekau may completely ceased under ISWAP but targeted killings of prominent people, institutions of government as has being the practice of ISWAP may likely increase even as there are chances that ISWAP will not be too difficult in accepting offer of dialogue.
For now, the world awaits the statement from ISWAP to officially confirm Shekau’s death and what the new group will look like. This development is coming when there is renewed commitment by the federal government to eliminate the insurgents and at a time the Army Chief, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru was killed in an air mishap at the Kaduna International airport.
