Nigeria: The leader of the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram is dead

The leader of the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram is dead, a rival militant group said in an audio recording. The Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) militant group said in an audio recording on Sunday that Abubakar Shekau, leader of rival Nigerian militant Islamist group Boko Haram, was dead.    Shekau died around May 18 after detonating an explosive device when he was pursued by ISWAP fighters following a battle, a person purporting to be ISWAP leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi said on the audio recording. “Abubakar Shekau, God has judged him by sending him to heaven,” he…