Shekau: Dead or alive?

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group was killed in an ambush laid by Nigerian troops in Konduga, Borno State, a Nigerian newspaper claimed today.

The Vanguard online claimed that Nigerian troops ambushed Shekau, the same way his men had been trapping Nigerian soldiers, and attacked him.

According to Vanguard, Shekau was lured to Konduga by some of the militants of the sect already captured by Nigerian troops.

“Before the captured insurgents were urged to make the contact and deliver the message, the military commanders had promised them that their cooperation would play a role in the level of punishment to be meted to them after the battle hence they felt reassured.

“Also, the captured insurgents had disclosed that Shekau usually moved in a convoy of cars painted in military colours while he sits in a MOWAG Armoured tank with Boko Haram inscription on its front.
When Shekau was contacted, his captured men spoke to him in Arabic, assuring him that they had taken over Konduga, thereby giving him the all clear to proceed from Sambisa Forest. To convince him further, a set of his men captured were told to sing the victory song in Kanuri language they normally sing at the background.

“Having convinced himself that the messenger was his chief courier in such situation and the message is authentic, he and his followers made for Konduga, heavily armed with Anti-Aircraft weapons, General Purpose Machine Guns, several AK 47 rifles and other IEDS’.

“However, on entering Konduga town, he and his followers were encircled by strategically placed and heavily armed Nigerian soldiers. Immediately he contacted the messenger and discovered that something was amiss, he ordered his followers to start shooting in all direction.

This spurred the Army Commanders to give the directive to open fire. When he discovered that the fire power of the Nigerian Army who used both Infantry and Artillery weaponry was overpowering that of his men, he jumped out of the MOWAG and made to escape.

But eagle-eyed Nigerian Soldiers spotted him and opened fire on him, shattering his legs in the process. It was learnt that he also received bullet wounds in other parts of his body leading to his bleeding to death.”

Source: www.vanguardngr.com