The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday said it killed about 300 Boko Haram members during a recent aerial bombardments of terrorist locations in the North-East of Nigeria.
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Shekau, who has recently been at the centre of a power struggle within Boko Haram, was “believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders”, Mr Usman said, without giving further details.
Many other insurgents were also killed at Darul Jamel on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno.
Boko Haram, which means “Western education is forbidden”, past year pledged allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The man, whose name was given as Mudasiru Jibrin, was arrested on July 17 at a Boko Haram detention centre uncovered by the secret police operatives in Kano.
Kerry, speaking this morning in northern Sokoto city, made no reference to the army’s report.
“Beating Boko Haram on the battlefield is only the beginning”, said Mr. Kerry, who called on Nigeria to “strike at the root causes of violent extremism” by more aggressively fighting rampant corruption in the government, as well as policies of marginalization and inequality that the terrorists have exploited to recruit followers. More than 20,000 people have been killed and millions have fled Nigeria due to the fighting that created a humanitarian crisis.
Tuesday’s announcement by the air force is at least the fourth time that Shekau has been declared killed.
“It is so important to restoring trust among the people”, Mr. Kerry said before holding talks with Mr. Buhari. Shekau later appeared to contradict that account in a video message of his own.
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BENIN-GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that the people of the state were proud of the invaluable services of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the peace and security of the state and the nation, especially in defeating the Boko Haram terrorists. However since May this year, Washington has been poised to sell the west African country 12 light attack aircraft, a deal that is awaiting approval in Congress.
