Military confirms death of ISWAP leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi

The leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadist group, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, is dead, Nigeria’s top military commander said on Thursday.

ISWAP has not given any confirmation of al-Barnawi’s death and Nigeria’s military has claimed before to have killed jihadist commanders only for them to reappear.

“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 giving details on how or when the death had occurred.