It had already been announced by the group Islamic State in West Africa on Sunday, June 6, but Boko Haram confirmed it in a video. The jihadist leader took his own life almost a month ago to escape his rivals from Iswap, who besieged him in his stronghold in Sambisa.
From our correspondent in Lagos,Liza Fabbian
It is truly “like a martyr” that Abubakar Shekau died confirming the message spread by the Boko Haram group. In this video, we see Bakura Modu, said Sahaba – an important figure in the “Bakura faction” of Boko Haram, established on the shores of Lake Chad.
According to specialists, he is just a spokesman. And it is “likely” according to them that the leader of this group – Bakura Doro – is actually the new leader of Boko Haram. It remains to be seen whether these Shekau believers are ready to negotiate with Iswap.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 16, Boko Haram’s spokesman violently attacked the group’s leader, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, whom he described as an “evil aggressor”.
Message in Arabic
However, the message was recorded in Arabic – which is unusual and suggests that it was aimed at the central Islamic state, whose legitimacy does not seem to be questioned – according to researcher Vincent Foucher. He further notes that attacks on civilians have decreased significantly in Cameroon in recent weeks. This change of method may follow the integration of certain Shekau lieutenants in the Iswap ranks.
On the other hand, on the shores of Lake Chad, where the Bakura faction of Boko Haram continues to operate, raids on civilians have not stopped, the researcher states.
►Also read:The death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was confirmed by rival jihadist groups
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