The leader of the Islamist sect, Abubakar Shekau, may have died of gunshot wound as far back as June this year, the Defence headquarters claimed on Monday.
According to the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesperson, Lt. Col. Shagir Musa, the sect leader may have died during one of the encounters with the troops at Sambisa Forest.
The statement reads, “Intelligence report available to the Joint Task Force Operation RESTORE ORDER revealed that Abubakur Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram Terrorists leader may have died.
“He died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on 30 June 2013. Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide – a border community in Cameroun for treatment which he never recovered. It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July and 3 August, 2013.
“He was reported to have masterminded the kidnap of the seven French citizens and that of the elder statesman Alhaji (Dr) Shettima Ali Monguno in addition to many murders of Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria.
“He was also responsible for bombings of many places of worship and public buildings including Police and United Nations Headquarters in Abuja”.
Lt Col. Musa claimed that the recent video released on 13 August, 2013 by the purported sect leader was “dramatized by an imposter to hoodwink the sect members to continue with the terrorism and to deceive the undiscerning minds”.
Therefore, The JTF enjoined the sect members to lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government’s offer for dialogue.
