Radical Muslim Leader in Africa Killed in Shootout

Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, is presumed dead. An intelligence report stated he died sometime between July 25 – August 3. From the BBC:

The intelligence report suggested that Shekau was shot on 30 June, when soldiers raided a Boko Haram base at Sambisa Forest in north-eastern Nigeria.

“Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide – a border community in Cameroon for treatment… It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August 2013,” Col Musa said.

He appeared in a video on August 13, but Musa said it was an imposter to keep Shekau’s followers in the war. The next day, August 14, the military claimed they killed his second-in-command, Momodu Bama.

Boko Harem, which means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language, formed in 2002 and gained notoriety in 2009 when they raided police stations and government buildings. They have killed close to 2,000 people since then, especially in north and central Nigeria.