Report received by The DEFENDER over the latest development in the Nigeria’s recuperating North East shows that leader of the Boko Haram group, Abubakar Shekau, has been injured while one of his deputies killed in a military air strike in the ongoing cleansing that the Nigeria Armed Forces embark upon in the part of the country.
AFP reports that some civilian and security sources gave the information on Wednesday that Shekau’s deputy, Abba Mustapha was killed in the air strike attack when two Nigerian Air Force jets bombarded fighters who had gathered for prayers in Balla village, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damboa, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest, last Friday.
“Shekau was wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata,”
“His deputy, Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba, was killed in the attack along with another key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha,” the source said.
Another source who is a member of the civilian militia in Maiduguri named, Babakura Kolo, also gave a similar account, saying “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.”
The DEFENDER however has tried to get the Director of Defence, Major General John Enenche, to comment on the latest development but couldn’t reach him on phone as his phone was not going. He has however been sent a text message.
