ABUJA—The Second-in-Command to Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, Momodu Bama, has been killed during an encounter with troops around the Bama corridor as a video of how Boko Haram slaughtered its victims was shown to a group of senators during a security briefing by JTF in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
This came even as the Federal Government announced, yesterday, that the state of emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states three months ago has been a huge success.
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, also yesterday, ratified bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Niger Republic and another Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, between Nigeria and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A picture taken from a video distributed to journalists in recent days through intermediaries and obtained by AFP on March 5, 2013 reportedly shows Abubakar Shekau (C), the suspected leader of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, flanked by six armed and hooded fighters in an undisclosed place.
A picture taken from a video distributed to journalists in recent days through intermediaries and obtained by AFP .
Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, who disclosed the killing of Momodu Bama, said the deceased Boko Haram leader was personally leading the attacks against troops and innocent citizens in Yobe and Adamawa. communities.
Momodu Bama was among the most wanted terrorists with a N25 million bounty placed on his head, while the International Criminal Court listed him as one of those to face trial before it for crimes against humanity.
The defence spokesman said that others, who died in the operation, include Bama’s father, Alhaji Abatcha Flatari, who is also one of the spiritual leaders of the outlawed terrorists group.
17 dead, 24 arrested
Also, during the encounter, 17 other terrorists lost their lives in the shootout, while 24 were arrested with dangerous weapons and several AK-47 rifles recovered in the process.
Olukolade added that Special Forces were continuing the pursuit of the terrorists, while intensifying aggressive aerial and land patrols to ensure better security cover for the communities, especially in the two states.
Security sources said that the late Bama, also called Abu Saad, masterminded the kidnap of northern leader, 92-year-old Shettima Ali Monguno in May, and seven French citizens, among other crimes.
The deceased is said to have hailed from Bama in Borno State, the same town where he was killed.
Security sources disclosed, yesterday, that apart from leading military operations, the deceased terrorist was also the head of the Administration and Finance Department of the outlawed Boko Haram.
A source said: “Abu Saad also led the kidnap of two Muslim Indians and several other attacks on security forces in Bama, Baga, Monguno and Mubi,” adding that the insurgent took over the position of Deputy Leader after another leader of the sect, called Palasasi, was killed by security operatives.
The Boko Haram is yet to confirm the killing of Abu Saad, although independent sources, who could not confirm his death, say he was truly at the top echelon of the sect.
Boko Haram’s videos
The sect’s leader, Shekau, who recently released a video (after August 4), admitted that the sect carried out the Bama attack, but kept mum on Abu Saad’s death. He, however, claimed the sect killed several soldiers and was winning the war against Nigerian troops.
Meanwhile, a video on how Boko Haram slaughters its victims was shown to a group of senators during a security briefing by JTF in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
In the video, captured traders were pinned to the ground with their hands tied behind their back, while a sect member bent over to run a sharp knife through one of their victims’ neck. A stream of blood from the victim, and shouts of Allahu Akbar (God is Great) by the slaughterers followed.
Some of the traders, who were forced to watch the gruesome slaughter of their colleague, simply dug their faces into the ground in submission. One after the other, the same hideous fate befell each. Not done, the sect members hung each of the severed heads on its torso.
Officers murdered
Also, the senators saw the killing of three uniformed policemen, with their green berets intact. Before the cops were slaughtered, they were made to stand in front of a banner with Arabic inscriptions, while a hooded terrorist, with an AK-47 rifle, read portions of Quran before pronouncing death sentences on them.
Before their execution, two of the policemen slumped.
Although the delegation was forewarned by Borno State Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha, who attended the briefing, about the savagery they were about to see, some of the senators reportedly could not watch the full length of the video.
They buried their faces in their palms, while others asked the intelligence officer to fast-forward the videos. A retired general, who fought in the Nigerian Civil War, and a member of the delegation, was said to have told his colleagues that not even in the war did he witness such cruelty.

Once upon a time, there was a group called Boko Haram. I believe it will soon be over

This is really serious... God save us all from such untimely death... The devil came to kill, steal and destroy...