Shekau: injured

The Nigerian army says Boko Haram leader, Abubakar  Shekau has been seriously wounded on his shoulder as he was among the militants of the insurgent group struck in an  air bombardment  by the Nigerian Air Force  on 19 August.

Col. Sani Usman, acting Director, Army Public Relations said today that three other Boko Haram terrorists were confirmed dead in the attack.

They were identified as  Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman.

Colonel Usman in a text message to NAN clarified that Shekau was not among the dead, which implies that ‘fatally wounded’, contained in his earlier statement meant to convey ‘seriously wounded’.

He said the raid took place while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village,  Gombale general area within Sambisa Forest..

Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar had told journalists yesterday that  at least 300 members of  Boko Haram terrorists were killed during air operations in some parts of Borno State.

Abubakar, gave the figure on Monday while briefing pilots of fighter jets in Maiduguri, the state’s capital in northeast Nigeria.

Air Marshal Abubakar who said he was impressed with the outcome of air operations carried out in the last one week said the insurgents were killed where they had gathered, most probably to plan their next attack.

The news of the massive decimation of Boko Haram leaders emerged with revelations on Monday that  at least 11 residents of Kuburvwa, a village near Chibok in Borno state were killed by members of the insurgent group on Sunday  night.

The assailants are also accused of raping several women and kidnapping many others from the Nigerian village.

Abbas Gava, the spokesperson of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria who the attack to journalists in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state said many who fled into the nearby bushes to escape the attack can still not be traced.