A top commander of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram, Ibrahim Bakoura has denied reports that he died in air strikes conducted by the Nigerien Military forces.
Recall that the government of Niger Republic had on Tuesday declared Bakoura dead.
According to the Niger government, the terrorist leader was killed in airstrikes conducted by the nation’s armed forces, on August 15.
It said Bakoura died alongside other high-ranking terrorist leaders during the military air operation targeting Boko Haram members in Korongol, Kournawa, and Shilawa in the country’s Diffa region.
This attack on the terrorists’ stronghold comes shortly after Niger’s head of state, Abdurahamane Tiani said that Bakoura was one of the key actors involved in destabilising the nation.
However, reacting to reports of his death, Bakoura in an intercepted communication by some security sources dispelled the claim.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-terrorism expert said Bakoura was heard assuring his commanders that he was alive.
Makama said that, from the communication, Bakoura said he read in the news that his death was announced by the government of the Republic of Niger.
While admitting that the airstrikes took place in the said location, he stated that he was not among those killed during the military onslaught.
