Boko Haram's Shekau 'wounded' in airstrike
Date
8/24/2016 4:40:28 AM
In this May 12, 2014 file photo taken from video by Nigeria's Boko Haram terrorist network, shows their leader Abubakar Shekau speaking to the camera. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is believed to be fatally wounded in an airstrike while he was praying in a forest stronghold in northeast Nigeria, the military said on Aug 23. (AP)
SOKOTO, Nigeria, Aug 23, (RTRS): Nigeria's air force said it had killed a number of senior Boko Haram fighters and possibly their overall leader, and US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived for talks on tackling the militants. Government planes attacked the Islamist group inside the Sambisa forest in its northeast heartland on Friday, the air force said, adding that it had only just confirmed details of the impact of the raid. 'Their leader, so called 'Abubakar Shekau', is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders,' the statement by military spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman added, without going into details on the source of its information. Kerry did not make a direct reference to the reported air raid on his arrival on Tuesday, but his administration has paid close attention to the fight against a militant group that has declared allegiance to Islamic State and destabilised a whole region by attacking Nigeria's neighbours. On his first stop in the northern city of Sokoto, the top US diplomat said the struggle against Boko Haram would only succeed if it tackled the reasons why people join militant groups and gained the public's trust. 'It is understandable that, in the wake of terrorist activity, some are tempted to crack down on anyone and everyone who could theoretically pose some sort of threat. But extremism can't be defeated through repression or fear,' he said. Nigeria has been pushing the United States to sell it aircraft to take on Boko Haram — a group that emerged in northeast Borno region seven years ago. The militants have killed an estimated 15,000 people in their fight to set up an Islamist state. Under Nigeria's last president, Goodluck Jonathan, the United States had blocked arms sales and ended training of Nigerian troops partly over human rights concerns such as treatment of captured insurgents.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.