In May Boko Haram supremo Abubakar Shekau was killed after allegedly detonating an explosive on himself to avoid being killed by rival jihadists from ISWAP in the Sambisa forest in north-east Nigeria...

It was reported that as Lafiya Dole commander Ibrahim had failed to deliver on an ultimatum from Buratai: to capture Boko Haram commander Abubakar Shekau dead or alive (AC Vol 62 No 3 After mounting security pressure President sacks service chiefs)...

Jama'atu Ahlus Sunna Lidda'awati wal Jihad (JAS) is led by the notorious Abubakar Shekau a bombastic egotist fond of declaiming on YouTube videos whom the Nigerian military has declared dead many times...

It also wanted to differentiate its operations from those of Abubakar Shekau's Jama'atu Ahlus Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS) originally known as Boko Haram which had launched indiscriminate attacks on mosques churches and marketplaces often using women or children as suicide bombers...

Within a week of the President's remarks Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau issued an exultant video claiming successful attacks in Maiduguri Gamboru and Damboa in which 25 loggers were murdered four food aid workers killed and three people burned to death the last incident taking place on Christmas Day (AC Vol 59 No 1 All about votes and the naira)...

One of its leaders Abubakar Shekau continues to claim credit for recent operations...

Last October Déby had tried to broker talks between the Nigerian government and political figures believed to be close to Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau aka Abu Mohammed...

Ndjamena HQNews such as the capture of the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and the rebounding of world oil prices could change the picture radically but neither looks likely within the next six weeks...

Last week a YouTube video clip claiming to be released under the auspices of Boko Haram's putative leader Abubakar Shekau dismissed any talk of a truce and said that the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok had been married off (AC Vol 55 No 12 Jonathan faces the north)...