Boko Haram leader Ibrahim Bakoura Doro, also known as Abu Oumaimah, has denied claims by the Niger Republic that he was killed during recent military air operations in the Diffa region.
Naija News reports that the Nigerien Armed Forces on Friday announced that Bakoura and other top insurgent figures were eliminated in coordinated strikes carried out on August 15 in Korongol, Kournawa and Shilawa.
The military said the raids destroyed Boko Haram bases, killed dozens of fighters and removed high-ranking commanders.
Niger’s Head of State, Gen. Abdurahamane Tiani, had also identified Bakoura as one of the group’s key actors accused of plotting unrest in the country.
But in an intercepted message obtained by security analyst, Zagazola Makama on Saturday, Bakoura dismissed the reports.
He acknowledged that the airstrikes happened but maintained that he survived the attack despite reports of his death spreading online.
“I saw the news of my killing on social media, as announced by Niger Republic The airstrikes did happen, but I am not among those who were killed,” Bakoura told his commanders.
In other news, A young son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, has been arrested in Chad, where he was allegedly leading a jihadist cell.
According to AFP, security sources have confirmed that Muslim Mohammed Yusuf, believed to be 18 years old, was arrested alongside five other suspected insurgents during a raid by Chadian security forces.
Naija News reports that although Chadian police confirmed the arrest of six Boko Haram members, they did not immediately verify if one of them was the son of the late extremist cleric.
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