ISIS Names New Boko Haram Leader

ISIS Names New Boko Haram Leader

There may be something to the rumours that Abubakar Shekau, the notorious leader of the Nigerian Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, is dead, as the Islamic State (ISIS) has picked a new leader for the group.

Hammered by intense onslaught from the Nigerian military, in March 2015, the terrorist group, which was originally an offshoot of Al Qaeda pledged allegiance to ISIS and renamed itself Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

Premium Times reports that ISIS announced that the new leader of the group is Abu Musab al-Barnawi. al Barnawi was the spokesperson of Boko Haram.

The announcement was made on ISIS magazine. The report was, however, silent on the whereabouts of Shekau.

Shekau who became notorious for posting propaganda videos mocking the country’s military officials was last seen in a Boko Haram video in March 2015 where he strangely asked for forgiveness and spoke in a subdued tone as against his boastful bloodcurdling manner that struck fear in many Nigerians.