Abubakar Shekau
Nigerian militant and former leader of Boko Haram / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Abu Mohammed Abubakar al-Sheikawi (also known by the alias Darul Akeem wa Zamunda Tawheed, or Darul Tawheed; "the abode of monotheism"; 1965 to 1975[1] – 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.[2][3] He served as deputy leader to the group's founder, Mohammed Yusuf, until Yusuf's execution in 2009.
Abubakar Shekau | |
---|---|
Born | Between 1965 and 1975[1] Shekau, Tarmuwa, Yobe State, Nigeria |
Died | 19 May 2021 (aged 46–56) Sambisa Forest, Borno State, Nigeria |
Allegiance | Boko Haram (2002–2021) Islamic State (fully 2015–2016; loosely from 2016) |
Years of service | 2002–2021 |
Rank | Leader (2009–2021) |
Battles/wars | Boko Haram insurgency |
Nigerian authorities believed that Shekau was killed in 2009 during clashes between security forces and Boko Haram until July 2010, when Shekau appeared in a video claiming leadership of the group.[3] He had subsequently been regularly reported dead and was thought to use doubles.[4][5][6]
Shekau has been criticized by human rights advocates for terrorism, bombings, forced conversions and kidnapping.
In March 2015 Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, in 2016, ISIS Central tried to replace Shekau with Abu Musab al-Barnawi as leader of the group, causing a split. Shekau's loyalists were called Boko Haram and al-Barnawi's loyalists were known as Islamic State's West Africa Province. Shekau was a Salafi, until 2016, when he ended his relation to ISIL.[7] Relations between Shekau and ISIS declined, and in 2021 ISIS launched a major operation against Shekau and his supporters.
Shekau killed himself on 19 May 2021 by detonating a suicide vest during the battle of Sambisa Forest between Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Africa Province.[8] His death was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and was confirmed by Nigerian officials, ISWAP, and his surviving loyalists.[9][10]