A top commander of the al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic terror group Boko Haram has been killed in a battle with the Nigerian military.
Ibn Saleh Ibrahim was killed along with six lieutenants died when military troops staged a siege after receiving a tip regarding Ibrahim’s location. A number of civilians were reportedly killed in the crossfire according to the BBC.
Boko Haram has refused to comment on the news.
“We learned [Ibrahim] was in town and we were able to track him in a special operation,” Army Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told the BBC. “There was an exchange of fire and in the process he was killed.”
The raid in the northeastern city of Maiduguri resulted in the capture of a number of weapons and explosives.
Ibrahim has been a key target of the military since he allegedly masterminded the assassination of General Mohammed Shuwa under orders from Boko Haram’s commander. Gen. Shuwa is considered a war hero in the Nigerian military.
Boko Haram is attempting to overthrow the Nigerian government and install Sharia law.
