The Nigerien army confirmed that it has killed Boko Haram leader Ibrahim Mahamadou, widely known as Bakoura, in an air operation near the Lake Chad basin. The strikes, carried out on August 15 against Boko Haram positions on Shilawa Island, involved three successive bombardments by Niger’s air force, according to an official statement. Bakoura, who took control of the group after Abubakar Shekau’s death in 2021, was among the most prominent figures in the insurgency. His death marks a significant moment in regional counterinsurgency efforts, though the claim could not be independently verified.

According to military sources, the operation targeted hideouts regularly used by Bakoura in southeastern Niger, an area bordering Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. The army said he was in his forties when killed in the early morning assault. The region has long served as a staging ground for Boko Haram operations, with Shilawa Island acting as one of the group’s key logistical hubs.

Born in Nigeria, Ibrahim Mahamadou joined Boko Haram 13 years ago and rose steadily through the ranks. He became leader in 2021 following Shekau’s death, guiding the group during a period of heavy clashes with both regional armies and rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). His leadership saw Boko Haram retain a foothold in cross-border areas, where it launched ambushes, raided villages, and sabotaged infrastructure.