TheCable

The Nigerian air force (NAF) says “human intelligence” has indicated that Fitdasi Shekau, wife of Boko Haram leader, appeared to have been killed in airstrikes on Durwawa settlement on the outskirts of Urga, near Konduga in Borno state.

Olatokunbo Adesanya, director of public relations and information at air force headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Adesanya, Fitdasi was reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other insurgents at the location of the airstrikes.

He said NAF had carried out aerial attacks on a large number of insurgents at Durwawa on October 19.

“Battle Damage Assessment had indeed revealed that the aerial attack set off a fire, causing damage to the insurgents’ structures within the settlement,” he said.

“The airstrike also succeeded in neutralising most of the insurgents with a few of them fleeing the location,” he said.

Adesanya said efforts were ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau’s wife, alongside other insurgents.

Although the military has made many claims of killing Shekau, this is the first time that it would comment about his wife.

On several occasions, Shekau has embarrassed security agencies by debunking reports of his death.