Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade on Wednesday confirmed that the dreaded Abubakar Shekau, leader of Islamist sect, Boko Haram is dead.
In a statement issued by the Nigerian military it was confirmed that Shekau was killed by security forces. The military stated that the real Shekau was killed by soldiers over a year ago, but that his character had been assumed by another leader of the deadly group.
“The impersonator is the man who appeared in several Boko Haram propaganda videos, claiming he is Shekau”, the military said. The military claimed that it was new Shekau that was killed in a fierce clash with the military last week in Konduga, near Maiduguri, Borno state.