Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau killed himself in a fight against rival jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) according to audio AFP obtained from the group Sunday, two weeks after reports emerged that he had died. Boko Haram has not yet officially commented on the death of their leader while the Nigerian army said it was investigating the claim. He killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive," said a voice resembling that of ISWAP leader Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, speaking in the Kanuri language. As the group now looks to absorb Shekau's fighters and territory, Nigeria's army potentially faces a more unified jihadist force, analysts say. Since 2019, Nigeria's army has pulled out of villages and smaller bases to hunker down in so-called "supercamps", a strategy critics say allows jihadists to roam free in rural areas.

Source: The Hindu June 06, 2021 19:28 UTC