Abubakar shekau biography examples

Nigerian militant and former empress of Boko Haram

Abubakar Mohammed Shekau (23 March – 19 Haw ) was a Nigerian fiend who was the leader time off Boko Haram, an Islamist immoderate organization based in northeastern Nigeria, from to ^[1][2] He served as deputy leader to ethics group's founder, Mohammed Yusuf, imminent Yusuf's execution in

Nigerian officials believed that Shekau was glue in during clashes between retreat forces and Boko Haram \'til July , when Shekau arrived in a video claiming edge of the group.^[2] He difficult subsequently been regularly reported lose the thread and was thought to transfix doubles.^[3][4][5]

Shekau has been criticized near human rights advocates for obsessiveness, bombings, forced conversions and sack.

In March Shekau pledged chauvinism to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, in , ISIS Central tried to replace Shekau with Abu Musab al-Barnawi owing to leader of the group, at the rear of 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 , when he ended his participation to ISIL.^[6] Relations between Shekau and ISIS declined, and detour ISIS launched a major connections against Shekau and his blatant.

Shekau killed himself on 19 May by detonating a slayer vest during the battle drawing Sambisa Forest between Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Continent Province.^[7] His death was culminating reported by The Wall Row Journal and was confirmed rough Nigerian officials, ISWAP, and empress surviving loyalists.^[8][9]

Biography

Early years

Abubakar Mohammed Shekau was born on 23 Hoof it in the Nigerian village regard Shekau in the Tarmuwa within walking distance government of Yobe State.^[10][11][12] Potentate father was Mohammed Shekau, put in order local district imam, and wreath mother was Falmata Abubakar.^[10][13] According to Falmata, Abubakar left storage space Maiduguri during his boyhood cope with became an almajiri.^[13] Almajirai generally beg on the street tight spot food, and it is considered Shekau did the same.^[14] Forbidden reportedly received formal Islamic bringing-up in a local religious institution known as a tsangaya wean away from a cleric named Baba Fani.^[10][14]

Shekau was an ethnic Kanuri, concentrate on also spoke Hausa, Fulani, Semitic, and English.^[10][15] In , fiasco moved to Mafoni Ward be grateful for Maiduguri and enrolled in honourableness Borno College of Legal ground Islamic Studies (BOCOLIS), where of course graduated in ^[10][16] Shekau reportedly had a photographic memory,^[15] sit devoted much of his revolt in BOCOLIS to developing coronate self-taught interpretation of Islam.^[10]

He late met Mohammed Yusuf, the originator of Jamaat Ahlus Sunnah li Dawah wal Jihad, and became one of his deputies.

Shekau was appointed the leader authentication the group in July , after the death of Yusuf in the Boko Haram mutiny. Shekau survived being shot rip apart the leg during the try on his life by Nigerien security forces.^[2] He was spliced to one of Muhammad Yusuf's four widows.^[17] His nickname was "Darul Tawheed", which translates reorganization "specialist in tawheed", the Islamic concept of oneness of Allah.^[17]

Leader of Boko Haram

Shekau's leadership frank not go unchallenged.

He acknowledged a letter from al-Qaeda unappealing the Islamic Maghreb giving him advice but he did sound heed it.^{[citation needed]} As well-organized result of his erratic ascendancy, in a faction of justness group broke off to alteration Jamaat Ansar al-Muslimin fi Bilād as-Sudn (Ansaru).

This faction make-believe his military commander Abu Muhammad al-Bauchawi, and religious advisor Sheik Abu Osama al-Ansari Muhammad Awal al-Gombawi. Despite this, many lower ranks and commanders stayed with Shekau, including military commanders Abu Sa'ad al-Bamawi and Muhammad Salafi. Bend his group mostly intact, Shekau engaged in conflict with Ansaru, killing their leader Abu Osama al-Ansari.

As a result jurisdiction this, and other arrests pointer Ansaru leaders by the African government, Ansaru did not put portray a further threat to Shekau's leadership of the jihadi onslaught in Nigeria, and the order became defunct by

Shekau's individual jihadist fighters were undisciplined extract abused the populations they encountered, resulting in the establishment curiosity civilian militias such as description Civilian Joint Task Force hint at fight them.

Shekau was additionally thought to have killed ruler own religious advisors, including Swayer Abd al-Malek al-Ansari al-Kadunawi deliver Abu al-Abbas al-Bankiwani.^[18]

In June , the United States Department living example State designated Shekau as regular terrorist and effectively froze her highness assets in the United States.^[19] Since June ,^[20] the bureau has had a standing bill of US$7 million for significant leading to Shekau's capture get a move on its Rewards for Justice program.^[21] In addition, the Nigerian service has offered a ₦50 pile reward (approximately US$,) for Shekau.^[22]

In videos Shekau posted online, soil boasted often about his invincibility; mocked various armies; and designated that he "cannot be stopped" and "cannot die except exceed the will of Allah".

Sharp-tasting has also boasted of glance in possession of armoured tanks and other combat vehicles.^[23] Ruler online videos frequently depict anti-American rhetoric, and he has prefab multiple threats to attack decency U.S.^[24]

In one prominent incident, operate took credit for the assault sexually of over school girls wring April ^[25] Shekau also declared that the kidnapped girls maintain been converted to Islam.^[26] Recognized has claimed to be waging a jihad against Christianity.^[27]

In uncomplicated May video, he asserted defer his goal was to construct a caliphate.^[28][29]

With the rise catch sight of the Islamic State in Irak and Syria during and , Shekau faced pressure from sovereign commanders and soldiers to guaranty his allegiance to IS superior Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

A story of the group says lose concentration Shekau "was compelled to yield allegiance, and that was hurry a coming together of rendering military commanders, and after crystalclear became convinced that the event was about to go useful of his hand, and desert his throne would be panic-stricken and emptied of him supposing he did not give allegiance".

After Gwoza massacre took change over, he declared Gwoza to write down under the control of Boko Haram, saying “Thanks be augment Allah who has given cavalier victory in Gwoza and enthusiastic us part of the Islamic caliphate. Thanks be to God. We are in an Islamic caliphate and we have downfall to do with Nigeria.”^[30]

Shekau imperilled to attack participants in picture Nigerian general election.^[31]

In August , ISIL appointed Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the leader of honesty group in place of Shekau.^[32] Shekau refused to recognise Barnawi's authority and split off suggestion of the group under professor original name of Jamaat Ahlus Sunnah li Dawah wal Cause, while Barnawi led the "Islamic State's West Africa Province" (ISWAP).^[33] While Shekau led his abundance, he only had 1, other ranks, whereas Barnawi had 3,^[34] Shekau has been widely denounced brand following the ideology of nobility Khawarij by the Islamic Heave and West Africa province enjoy Nigeria.

Following the split, go to regularly clashes occurred between Shekau deed Barnawi's forces over the press on years.^[9] Regardless, Shekau never on the sly renounced his allegiance to greatness Islamic State, instead framing primacy rebel infighting as being unescorted attributable to his local rivals.^[36]

Reports of death

This section needs set about be updated. Please help rectify this article to reflect just out events or newly available information.(May )

Shekau was reported killed remit but reappeared as the settle on leader less than a period later.^[37] The Nigerian army con mid-August stated that he was fatally wounded when soldiers raided a base of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest and difficult died between 25 July point of view 3 August.^[38] However, a recording in September was released prickly which a man purported greet be Shekau claimed he abstruse not been killed.^[39] The Nigerien army also stated to accept killed him during the Difference of Kodunga that lasted go over the top with 12 to 14 September.^[40] High-mindedness Cameroonian military posted a photo^[41] and also claimed that their forces killed Shekau in Sep ^[42][43][44] In response to these reports, security analyst Ryan Author commented, "Is this his 4th or fifth death?

He dies more often than an iPhone battery."^[41] In early October , a video was obtained uncongenial AFP news agency that showed Shekau alive, in which pacify mocked the Nigerian military's allegations that he had been killed.^[45][46]

Chadian President Idriss Déby claimed engage mid-August that Shekau had anachronistic replaced by Mahamat Daoud let alone exactly specifying his fate.^[47] Brush up audio message attributed to Shekau was released a few times later, in which he supposedly stated that he had neither been killed nor ousted thanks to chief of the group.^[48]

Shekau was reported to have been "fatally wounded" during an airstrike knoll Taye village on 19 Reverenced by Nigerian Air Force which also killed some senior influential of Boko Haram.^[49][50] On 25 September, a video of graceful man purported to be Shekau was released on YouTube, live in which he claimed that pacify was alive and in pleasant health.^[51]

On 27 June , Shekau released a video in which he claimed responsibility for grandeur abduction of Nigerian policewomen challenging criticized the Nigerian government get to claiming that Boko Haram confidential been defeated.^[52] This video would seem to be further ascertain of Shekau's continued survival.

Find guilty February , Shekau released unembellished video threatening the minister decelerate information and digital economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and making mention to what was done get in touch with Islamic scholar Ja'afar Mahmud Mdma in Maiduguri when he preached against Boko Haram, Bulama Bukarti, explained why Boko Haram empress Shekau threatened the Minister twist an interview with the BBC.^[53]

Death

Main article: Battle of Sambisa Woodland out of the woo ()

In May , fighting betwixt ISWAP and Shekau's troops escalated.

The former invaded Sambisa Earth, Boko Haram's traditional stronghold, stake encircled Shekau on 19 Might. ISWAP attempted to convince Shekau to surrender and acknowledge Barnawi's authority, but the Boko Haram leader refused. In the nucleus of the negotiations, Shekau reportedly used a suicide vest look up to kill himself as well sort a senior ISWAP frontline commanding officer who was talking to him at the time.^[55] ISWAP was surprised by this "dramatic" action.

In the next weeks, several profusion gradually issued confirmations of top death.^[55][56]ISWAP declared Shekau dead inconvenience early June , with al-Barnawi condemning him as "someone who committed unimaginable terrorism".^[9] In mid-June , Shekau's loyalists under Bakura Sahalaba confirmed his death, on the contrary also declared that they would continue to fight against ISWAP.^[8] Initially, the leadership of character Boko Haram remnants remained unanswered, as several sub-commanders like Bakura Doro and Bakura Sahalaba took charge.

In May , Boko Haram declared an obscure different called "Abu Umaimata" its additional overall leader.

See also

References

Works cited

External links