The factional leader of the Boko Haram loyal to Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) Mamman Nur, who led the rebellion against Abubakar Shekau, which saw the emergence of Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawy faction of the group, has been killed by his fighters who rebelled against him, Daily Trust reported.
Nur, according to the report, was killed by his closest lieutenants on August 21. The deceased’s faction which broke away in 2014, moved to shores of Lake Chad region in Northern Borno and was later recognised by the Al-Baghdadi.
“Mamman Nur, who was killed on August 21, is the actual leader of the Boko Haram faction after they parted ways with Shekau. He (Nur) only put Habib in the front as shadow leader because of his father (Mohammed Yusuf).
“The name Al-Barnawy is only being heard as symbolic leader; he was meant to lead so that followers would remain committed to the cause championed by his late father but he (Nur) is the major link of the faction with the Islamic State; the chief strategist around Lake Chad, including their cells in Nigeria, Niger and Chad,” the paper quoted a source as saying.