NIGER ARMY ELIMINATES BOKO HARAM LEADER.

The Niger army announced the successful elimination of a Boko Haram leader in the Lake Chad basin. This operation took place on an island in the Diffa region, where Niger borders Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. The army reported that Bakura, a prominent figure in the jihadist group, died during an operation last week.

Bakura led a splinter faction loyal to the late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau. He refused to join the rival group, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Instead, he and his fighters moved to the islands on the Niger side of Lake Chad.

Boko Haram has waged an insurgency against the Nigerian government since 2009. This conflict has resulted in approximately 40,000 deaths and displaced over two million people. The violence has spilled into neighboring countries, with Niger experiencing its first Boko Haram attacks in 2015.

According to the Niger army, Bakura became a target for their fighter jets. On August 15, the air force conducted three precise strikes on his positions in Shilawa. The army labeled Bakura a “feared leader” within the group.

Bakura, whose real name was Ibrahim Mahamadu, was about 40 years old and originally from Nigeria. He joined Boko Haram over 13 years ago. After Shekau’s death in May 2021, Bakura assumed leadership of the faction.

We hope this action will disrupt the group’s activities and bring stability to Nigeria.