The leader of Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has reportedly committed suicide.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a rival group to Boko Haram, made this known, according to reports.
Reports indicate that ISWAP released a recording in which it claimed Shekau killed himself last month.
Boko Haram and ISWAP were allies but fell apart in 2016 due to reported disagreement over tactics.
According to reports, ISWAP claimed that Shekau murdered himself in a fight against rival jihadist fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province.
ISWAP purportedly sent audio to Reuters and AFP.
In the said audio, ISWAP leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, reportedly described how the Boko Haram leader killed himself.
Accordingly, the ISWAP leader claimed that Shekau murdered himself on May 18, 2021 after allegedly detonating an explosive device that he was wearing.
“Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the afterlife than getting humiliated on Earth,” he can be heard saying. “God has judged him by sending him to heaven,” ISWAP leader was quoted to have said.
Shekau has been reported dead on several occasions in the past.
By Melvin Tarlue