A notorious Commander of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), popularly known as Kiriku, has died after he was bitten by a venomous snake in Sambisa forest, Borno State.
According to sources, Kiriku sustained two snake bites from the ‘highly venomous’ brown snake in one of their hideouts in Agikur Mosque in Damboa Local Government Area last Tuesday and died on June 23, 2023.
Kiriku was one of the Commanders who operated within the Jiddari axis of Chiralia in the Timbuktu triangle². He led many attacks and ambushes against troops of Operation Hadin Kai between the road from Maiduguri to Damboa.
Sources said the notorious ISWAP Commander must have died due to lack of access to medical treatment¹³. His death is a major blow to the terrorist group, which has been waging a violent insurgency in the region for over a decade.
The Nigerian military has not confirmed or denied the report of Kiriku’s death. However, it has intensified its offensive against the terrorists in recent weeks, killing and capturing several of their fighters and commanders.
