Shekau's Successor: 30 Die as Boko Haram Leaders Clashed

Category: Boko Haram News 

Leaders of the Boko Haram sect, yesterday clashed over the successor of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, who the military said they have killed.

Trouble allegedly started when the sect leaders who converged on a community in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, disagreed on the need to continue their arm struggle following the death of Shekau.

It was learnt that while some supported dialogue with the Federal Government and sheathe their swords, others insisted that their violent campaign should continue. This group, allegedly pushed for a new leader to be selected at the meeting, but there was no consensus on the matter.

Nigerian Pilot learnt that a disagreement ensued, which led to a free-for-all. The situation degenerated to exchange of gunfire where 30 of the leaders were feared dead.

Fleeing residents from the area claimed that an argument first ensued among the insurgents on the field commander who should succeed Abubakar Shekau.

According to sources, the meeting had gone well until some of the members declared that the game was over and that they should ceasefire, surrender and hand over weapons to the Federal Government.

Madagali is one of the local government areas in the North-East zone overrun by the insurgents which they have turned to their operational headquarters.

One of the residents of Madagali town, who spoke to journalists in Yola yesterday, said that the “fight ensued over disagreement on whether to surrender and sheathe their swords as well as who should be the new Amir (Leader) after the killing of Shekau by soldiers in Bazza a fortnight ago.

The resident (name withheld) said: “Over 30 Boko Haram sect members died yesterday in Madagali town after a fight that ensued among them over disagreement to surrender their weapons. They just kept shooting one another sporadically.’’

He said that there was confusion among members of the group as some maintained that they would ceasefire.

For the past three weeks, Madagali, Gulak, Shuwa and Michika towns have been under the control of Boko Haram members.

Residents said that many of the insurgents who wanted to abandon the struggle had their fingers cut-off while others were given corporal punishments.

The police and military officers were not ready to speak on the matter when our reporter contacted them.

Source: Nigerian Pilot

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