Nigerian Military Says Leader of ISIS-Linked Group Is Dead

Nigerian Military Says Leader of ISIS-Linked Group Is Dead
Chief of Defense Staff Major General Leo Irabor (L) inspects soldiers standing on attention during a guard of honour for the newly appointed Nigerian military chiefs' arrival at the Maiduguri Airforce base in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on January 31, 2021. Audu Marte/AFP via Getty Images
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LAGOS, Nigeria—Nigeria’s military claimed Thursday that Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the leader of an ISIS-linked extremist group blamed for killing hundreds in the northeast, had died. There was no immediate confirmation from the militants.

At a news conference, Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, told reporters: “I can authoritatively confirm to you that Abu Musab is dead.” He gave no further information and it was not possible to independently corroborate the claim.