By Olayemi Esan
The Nigerien army has announced the killing of a senior Boko Haram commander, identified as Bakura, in a targeted military operation in the Lake Chad Basin. However, experts and regional analysts have cast doubt on the claim, stressing that there is no independent verification of his death and recalling a history of premature or false declarations of jihadist leaders’ demise.
Niger Army’s Account
In a statement released on Thursday, Niger’s military said Bakura was eliminated during a “surgical operation” conducted by fighter jets on August 15. According to the army, three successive airstrikes hit Bakura’s hideout in Shilawa, an island in the Diffa region near the borders with Nigeria and Chad.
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| Nigerien soldiers patrol the Diffa region near Lake Chad, a hotspot of Boko Haram activity. The army claims a top jihadist leader was killed in an airstrike, though doubts remain over the announcement | . |
Describing him as a “feared leader,” Niger’s forces stated that Bakura led a splinter faction loyal to the late Abubakar Shekau, the notorious Boko Haram chief who died in 2021. This wing of the group had refused to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), opting instead to continue its brutal insurgency from bases along Lake Chad.
The army also accused Bakura—whose real name was given as Ibrahim Mahamadu—of orchestrating several atrocities, including the mass abduction of over 300 students in Kuriga, Nigeria, in March 2024, and coordinating suicide bombings on mosques, markets, and public gatherings. At the time of his reported death, he was believed to be about 40 years old and had been a Boko Haram member for more than 13 years.
Experts Urge Caution
Despite the bold announcement, Nigerien authorities provided no evidence to substantiate Bakura’s killing. International news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that it was unable to verify the claim independently too.
Vincent Foucher, a Boko Haram specialist at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), expressed skepticism. “We have to be very, very prudent. Authorities have repeatedly announced the deaths of jihadist leaders, only for those leaders to resurface,” he warned.
Another expert on jihadist movements in West Africa, who spoke anonymously, suggested that credible sources indicate Bakura is still alive and active.
A Familiar Pattern of Uncertainty
The doubts surrounding Bakura’s reported death echo similar cases in the past. Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s most infamous leader, was declared dead multiple times during the 2010s before finally being confirmed killed in 2021 during clashes with ISWAP. His death paved the way for Bakura’s rise to leadership.
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| Undated file photo believed to show Boko Haram fighters in northeastern Nigeria. The group has splintered over the years, with factions loyal to both the late Abubakar Shekau and the Islamic State |
Such uncertainty underscores the challenges in verifying battlefield claims in the Lake Chad Basin, a region marked by shifting allegiances, fractured jihadist factions, and limited access for journalists or independent observers.
Boko Haram’s Enduring Violence
Boko Haram has waged a bloody insurgency since 2009, originally in northeastern Nigeria, with the aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate. Over 40,000 people have been killed, and more than two million displaced by the conflict, which has spilled into neighboring countries including Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
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| A map showing Niger’s Diffa region, where the army claims to have killed Boko Haram leader Bakura. The Lake Chad Basin, shared by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has been the epicenter of Boko Haram and ISWAP activity for over 15 years | . |
Niger first suffered Boko Haram attacks in 2015, with its southeastern Diffa region bearing the brunt of cross-border raids. Bakura’s faction, entrenched in the Nigerien islands of Lake Chad, continued to mount assaults despite counter-terrorism operations by regional militaries.
Niger’s Struggle Against Militancy
The claim of Bakura’s death comes at a time when Niger is grappling with overlapping security crises. Since a military coup in 2023, the junta-led government has faced mounting pressure to curb jihadist violence. Apart from Boko Haram in the east, Niger also contends with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates operating in its western regions bordering Mali and Burkina Faso.
While the announcement of Bakura’s death might boost morale among Nigerien troops and their allies, experts caution against premature celebration. Without verifiable proof, the fate of one of Boko Haram’s most wanted leaders remains uncertain.
Boko Haram Leadership Timeline
- 2009 – Boko Haram Emerges
The group begins its insurgency in northeast Nigeria under founder Mohammed Yusuf.
- 2009 – Yusuf Killed
Yusuf dies in police custody, and Abubakar Shekau takes over leadership.
- 2010s – Shekau’s Reign of Terror
Under Shekau, Boko Haram carries out mass bombings, kidnappings, and territorial control, including the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction.
- 2015 – ISWAP Split
Boko Haram fractures; a faction pledges allegiance to the Islamic State, forming ISWAP, while Shekau’s loyalists remain independent.
- 2021 – Shekau’s Death
Shekau dies during clashes with ISWAP fighters. His ally, Bakura (Ibrahim Mahamadu), assumes leadership of the remaining loyalist faction.
- 2025 – Reported Death of Bakura
Niger’s army claims Bakura was killed in an airstrike on August 15, though independent verification remains lacking.