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| Boko Haram Leader Wounded in Airstrike, Nigeria’s Military Says | Boko Haram Leader Wounded in Airstrike, Nigeria’s Military Says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| DAKAR, Senegal — The Nigerian military said on Tuesday that airstrikes had killed and wounded several top Boko Haram commanders in the Sambisa Forest in the country’s northeast, where militants have been hiding for months. | DAKAR, Senegal — The Nigerian military said on Tuesday that airstrikes had killed and wounded several top Boko Haram commanders in the Sambisa Forest in the country’s northeast, where militants have been hiding for months. |
| Among the wounded was Abubakar Shekau, who took the helm of the group after the death of its founder in 2009, according to Col. Sani Usman, a military spokesman. The military’s attack took place on Friday. | Among the wounded was Abubakar Shekau, who took the helm of the group after the death of its founder in 2009, according to Col. Sani Usman, a military spokesman. The military’s attack took place on Friday. |
| At least three other top commanders were killed in “the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid,” the military said in a news release. | At least three other top commanders were killed in “the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid,” the military said in a news release. |
| The military has claimed to have killed Mr. Shekau before. Leaders of the militant group are thought to be holed up deep in the forest, and any reports of deaths or injuries to commanders were impossible to independently confirm. | The military has claimed to have killed Mr. Shekau before. Leaders of the militant group are thought to be holed up deep in the forest, and any reports of deaths or injuries to commanders were impossible to independently confirm. |
| The news release from the military on Tuesday prompted confusion by stating that Mr. Shekau was “fatally wounded on his shoulders.” Colonel Usman later clarified, saying he had been wounded. | The news release from the military on Tuesday prompted confusion by stating that Mr. Shekau was “fatally wounded on his shoulders.” Colonel Usman later clarified, saying he had been wounded. |
| The Nigerian military has been stepping up its offensive against Boko Haram even as the group appears to be fracturing. Mr. Shekau has taken to YouTube in recent weeks to air a theological spat with Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who had previously been described as a spokesman for Boko Haram, over whether the group should refrain from targeting fellow Muslims with suicide bombings and other acts of violence. A recent issue of an Islamic State magazine ran an interview with Mr. Barnawi, in which it called him its “governor” for West Africa and made no mention of Mr. Shekau. | The Nigerian military has been stepping up its offensive against Boko Haram even as the group appears to be fracturing. Mr. Shekau has taken to YouTube in recent weeks to air a theological spat with Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who had previously been described as a spokesman for Boko Haram, over whether the group should refrain from targeting fellow Muslims with suicide bombings and other acts of violence. A recent issue of an Islamic State magazine ran an interview with Mr. Barnawi, in which it called him its “governor” for West Africa and made no mention of Mr. Shekau. |
| Mr. Barnawi is apparently leading an Islamic State-endorsed faction of Boko Haram. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State last year. | Mr. Barnawi is apparently leading an Islamic State-endorsed faction of Boko Haram. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State last year. |
| In a speech in Sokoto, Nigeria, where he was visiting Tuesday morning, Secretary of State John Kerry said that fighting Boko Haram was only the start of all that needed to be accomplished to battle terrorism in Nigeria. | |
| “Building public trust in government also requires cooperation from the military and law enforcement,” Reuters quoted Mr. Kerry as saying. “Extremism can’t be defeated through repression or fear.” | “Building public trust in government also requires cooperation from the military and law enforcement,” Reuters quoted Mr. Kerry as saying. “Extremism can’t be defeated through repression or fear.” |
| Tuesday’s announcement follows a claim this month from Boko Haram, which released a video purporting to show the bodies of several girls who were kidnapped two years ago from a school in Chibok. A fighter who appears in the video says the girls were killed in Nigerian airstrikes on the forest. | Tuesday’s announcement follows a claim this month from Boko Haram, which released a video purporting to show the bodies of several girls who were kidnapped two years ago from a school in Chibok. A fighter who appears in the video says the girls were killed in Nigerian airstrikes on the forest. |
| The Chibok episode is the most high-profile hostage taking to date by the group. More than 250 girls were taken from Chibok, prompting a social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls. So far, only one has been rescued. | The Chibok episode is the most high-profile hostage taking to date by the group. More than 250 girls were taken from Chibok, prompting a social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls. So far, only one has been rescued. |