Boko Haram leader injured, deputy dead in air strike

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s leader has been reportedly injured and one of his deputies killed in an air strike in northeast Nigeria. 
 

Some civilian and security sources said on Wednesday that Shekau’s deputy, Abba Mustapha was killed in the air strike attack when two Nigerian Air Force jets bombarded militants who had gathered in Balla village, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damboa, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest, last Friday. 

“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, alias Abu Aisha,” the source said. 

Another source who is a member of the civilian militia in Maiduguri named, Babakura Kolo, also gave a similar account, saying “Shekau was injured and a number of commanders were killed. 

“Among them is his deputy called Malam Abba. They suffered heavy casualties because the bombings targeted a large gathering of his followers.”