TheCable

Suspected links between Boko Haram and Islamic State (IS) militants appeared to have been confirmed on Wednesday following claims by the Mosul Youth Resistance Movement, Iraq.

The movement, which was formed to fight IS in Mosul, reportedly killed five Boko Haram insurgents who were in training, according to BasNew.

Saed Mamuzini, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Mosul spokesperson, told BasNews that the youth movement killed the insurgents in the Dargaza neighbourhood of eastern Mosul.

Mamuzini said: “The Nigerian Boko Haram militants were in Mosul to take part in a military training course conducted by Islamic State.”

This is the first report of the presence of Boko Haram militants in Iraq, months after its leader, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to IS.

Recently military onslaughts have dislodged Boko Haram from strategic areas in Nigeria, but they are yet to be fully crushed.