West Africa’s top ISIL leader is dead, says Nigerian army

Military commander claims Abu Musab al-Barnawi is dead, but West Africa’s ISIL branch has yet to confirm.

The leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) armed group is dead, according to a top Nigerian military commander.

Abu Musab al-Barnawi, a son of the founder of Nigeria’s Boko Haram armed group, was reported dead on Thursday.

“I can authoritatively confirm to you that al-Barnawi is dead. As simple as that. He is dead and remains dead,” Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor told reporters, without providing further details on how or when al-Barnawi had died.