Nigeria Says 'Safe to Assume' Boko Haram Leader Is Dead

Nigeria’s government no longer has any doubts that Abubakar Shekau, the notorious leader of the Boko Haram terror group, is dead. NEW: #ISIS sharing details of the alleged death of #BokoHaram leader Abubakar #Shekau in its digital newspaper, al-NabaPer @siteintelgroup translation, ISIS-West Africa fighters "intensively searched for two days, to then find him...with 7 of his guards under a tall tree" https://t.co/qYbYKcOm0b

Reports of Shekau’s death first emerged three months ago, with word he had been killed during a confrontation in the Sambisa Forest with rival terror group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite some initial skepticism, Nigerian officials now say the reports appear to be accurate. "Our position is that he has been reported dead and he is dead," Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed told VOA’s Hausa service in an interview late Monday.