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Abubakar Mohammed Shekau (23 March 1973 – 19 May 2021) was a Nigerian militant who was the leader of Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist organization based in northeastern Nigeria, from 2009 to 2021. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] He served as deputy leader to the group's founder, Mohammed Yusuf , until Yusuf's execution in 2009.
After the violent split between ISWAP and Boko Haram (which renamed to JAS) at the battle of Sambisa Forest in May that led to the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, civilians living in Boko Haram-controlled areas in Niger began defecting to Nigerien government-controlled areas while ISWAP attempted to consolidate areas held by the remains of Boko Haram. [1]
Boko Haram extended its actions into Cameroon, Chad and Niger during the mid 2010s, greatly increasing its power and territorial holdings in the Chad Basin in 2014. Its de facto leader Abubakar Shekau consequently attempted to increase his international standing among Islamists by allying with the prominent Islamic State (IS).
On 7 March, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL via an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account. [45] [30] Nigerian army spokesperson Sami Usman Kukasheka said the pledge was a sign of weakness and that Shekau was like a "drowning man". [215]
The film was apparently released on the orders of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of one of the factions of Boko Haram. [94] 21 of the Chibok schoolgirls were released in October by Boko Haram after negotiations between the group and the Nigerian government, brokered by International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government.
On 7 March, Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) via an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account. [36] [155] [156] Nigerian Army spokesperson Sami Usman Kukasheka said the pledge was a sign of weakness and that Shekau was like a "drowning man". [157]
Boko Haram rose to prominence in northwestern Nigeria in the early 2010's, growing to control territory in Borno State, southern Niger, and northern Cameroon.In 2021, the Islamic State - West Africa Province, which formed from ex-Boko Haram groups, launched an offensive that saw the death of Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau and ISWAP dominating former Boko Haram strongholds. [2]
It was initially reported that Boko Haram vice-chairman Abubakar Shekau had been killed, but he was later reported alive. [15] Nigerian policemen were also killed. After the government declared Maidguri to be secured, Nigerian forces began setting up mortar positions to shell the remaining enemy compound.