According to AFP, the Nigerian Air Force carried out two attacks on an area where Boko Haram members had gathered to pray. The sect's leader, Abubakar Shekau was said to have been injured in the airstrike, and one of his deputies killed, in Balla Village, Borno.

The statement from a military source reads: "Shekau was wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata. His deputy, Abba Mustapha -alias Malam Abba- was killed in the attack along with another key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha."

One member of the state Civilian Joint Taskforce, Baba Kolo, also confirmed the report that Shekau was injured in the airstrike. "Shekau was injured and a number of commanders were killed. Among them is his deputy called Malam Abba. They suffered heavy casualties because the bombings targeted a large gathering of his followers attending Friday prayers." said Kolo.

Though, the Nigerian Military is yet to confirm this latest report. However, a senior military officer in Maiduguri confirmed that the air force bombed Boko Haram positions in the Damboa area on Friday where they hit the targets with precision. "We got Intel that the terrorists were gathering at the location and we acted on the report," he added, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak about the operation.

He also said he was unable to comment on Shekau but the source with contacts in Boko Haram said Mustapha was preaching when the first jet bombed the mosque at about 1:00 pm. Moments later a second jet targeted worshippers as they fled.

"Shekau was just leaving a house nearby for the mosque when the first jet struck. He was injured in the second strike. They spent the rest of Friday and the whole of Saturday burying the dead" he said.

Source: http://www.rapportnaija.com/2017/05/boko-haram-leader-shekau-injured-in.html