Boko Haram leader Shekau 'injured' in Nigerian army airstrike

Leader of Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram is reportedly injured in an airstrike that killed one of his deputies last Friday, AFP reports on Wednesday.

The terrorist group was reportedly gathered for Friday prayers in Balla village near the Sambisa Forest when two Nigerian Air Force jets struck them.

“Shekau was wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata,” AFP quotes a source with contacts within Boko Haram.

“His deputy, Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba, was killed in the attack along with another key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha,” the source added.

Another source, Babakura Kolo, a member of the civilian militia in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri corroborated the story to AFP.

The military has not released any statement yet but said on Tuesday that it conducted air strikes last Friday against a group of Boko Haram terrorists.

This is the fourth time a report of Shekau being struck during military operations has resurfaced.

Reports of his death came up in 2013 and 2014, which were immediately debunked through a video message from Shekau.