NIGERIA – The
Nigerian Army has again declared that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
is dead. However, Major General Lucky Irabor, Commander of Operation
Lafiya Dole, is the one announcing Shekau’s death this time.
Speaking
during a tour of Adamawa state on Thursday, September 1, Major General
Irabor insisted that Shekau is dead, Vanguard reports. He said that the
individual originally identified as Shekau has indeed been killed. His
words: “I can confirm to you that the original Shekau was killed, the
second Shekau was killed, and the man presenting himself as Shekau, I
can also confirm to you that few days ago, he was wounded. We are yet to
confirm whether he is dead or not.”
According to Major
General Irabor, the Army does not make statements that are not based on
facts. He said the Nigerian troops fighting insurgency in the
northeast, will continue the military operations until the last
terrorist is taken out, as there is division among the Boko Haram
members. He added: “They released videos to prove that they are still
active, but that’s just a facade.” Since his emergence in 2009, Shekau
has been declared dead by the Nigerian Army on several occasions, though
it has never been solidly confirmed.
