Niger armed forces claim killing Boko Haram leader ”Bakoura”; Group denies claim

Niger armed forces claim killing Boko Haram leader ”Bakoura”; Group denies claim
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According to a report by Africanews, the Nigerien armed forces have killed a long-time Boko Haram leader named ‘Bakoura’. He was allegedly killed on August 15 in a targeted air strike on Shilawa Island in southeastern Niger.

However, Bakoura has denied reports by the Government of Niger Republic that he was killed in recent military operations in the country’s Diffa region.

The article, citing an AFP source, states that the Nigerien army used a fighter aircraft to launch three strikes on Bakoura’s position, destroying logistical bases, neutralising dozens of fighters and eliminating high-ranking commanders. His real name was Ibrahim Mahamadou, and he had been a Nigerian national who had led a Boko Haram faction since 2021. The news of his death comes amid a recent increase in Boko Haram attacks in West Africa, which have included raids on military bases and civilian communities.

On Monday, the group killed four security personnel in an attack on farmers in the Borno region of Nigeria bordering Niger.