A factional leader of the Boko Haram
terrorists, Abubakar Shekau, might have been injured in an air strike by the
Nigerian Air Force on Balla village, near Damboa in the Sambisa Forest area of
Borno State.
A source close to the Boko Haram insurgents
told Agence France Presse
on Wednesday that one of Shekau’s deputies, identified as Abba Mustapha, was
among several Boko Haram leaders killed in the air strike.
It was learnt that two fighter jets bombed
the insurgents, while they gathered for prayers in Balla village, which is
about 40 kilometres from Damboa on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest.
“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.
“Shekau was injured and a number of his
commanders killed. They fell heavily because the bombs hit them while attending
Friday prayers,” the source told AFP.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and
Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, told our correspondent on
Wednesday that investigations were ongoing to ascertain the identities of the
Boko Haram leaders killed.
The spokesman added that he could not
confirm if Shekau was killed in the bombing.
He stated, “It is true that the strike
killed some Boko Haram leaders. We do not have their identities yet and
investigation is ongoing to unravel that aspect. I cannot say whether Shekau was
at the place or not. That part is still a rumour.
“The NAF conducted the air interdiction
with two Alpha Jets and one F-7Ni aircraft. Battle-damage assessment conducted
showed that several Boko Haram leaders and their followers were killed.
“We were able to frustrate an attempt by
the insurgents to regroup in the Mangosum area of Sambisa.”
Source:AFP
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