Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, suspected dead - JTF

There were strong indications Monday that the Joint Taskforce had scored a bull’s eye in its fight against the deeaded group Boko Haram. The leader of the Islamist insurgents Abubakar  Shekau is dreaded, JTF announced on Monday.

The leader of dreaded terrorist gang, the Joint Task Force said in a statement, may have died of gun shot wounds.

According to the JTF , the latest video by Shekau may have been staged.

The JTF code named Operation Restore Order, in Maiduguri, Borno State said intelligence report available to it 'revealed that Abubakur Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram Terrorists leader may have died'.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Sagir Musa, on Monday, JTF  said Mr. Shekau 'died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on 30 June 2013.'

'Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide - a border community in Cameroun for treatment which he never recovered,” JTF said.

The statement reads further, 'It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August, 2013. He was reported to have masterminded the kidnap of the seven French citizens and that of the elder statesman Alhaji (Dr) Shettima Ali Monguno in addition to many murders of Islamic clerics in Northern Nigeria.

'He was also responsible for bombings of many places of worship and public buildings including Police and United Nations Headquarters in Abuja,' the statement said.

It also said the recent video released on 13 August, 20013 by the purported sect leader was 'dramatized by an imposter to hoodwink the sect members to continue with the terrorism and to deceive the undiscerning minds'.

'The JTF wishes to appeal to the sect members to lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government's offer for dialogue,' the statement added.