Doubts Emerge Over Reported Death of Boko Haram Commander ‘Bakoura Doro’

Fresh doubts have emerged over the alleged death of Boko Haram commander Ibrahim Mahamadou, better known as “Bakoura Doro,” following Niger’s claims that he was killed in an operation supported by Moroccan intelligence.

TIMES OF NIGERIA gathered from Zagazola Makama that despite Niger’s announcement on 15th August of a “surgical strike” in the Diffa region, sources close to Bakoura insist he remains alive.

Niger’s military had said airstrikes along the Bosso–Abadam axis eliminated Bakoura, hailing it as a breakthrough in West Africa’s fight against terrorism.

State broadcaster RTN credited Morocco with providing the intelligence, and the news was widely celebrated.

However, reports of an audio message allegedly from Bakoura have cast doubt, with the militant dismissing Niger’s claims as “false propaganda” and insisting the photograph circulated as proof of his death was seven years old.

Analysts suggest Nigerien authorities may be using such claims to bolster credibility and rally support amid worsening Boko Haram insecurity and economic hardship.

In May 2024, Niger also falsely claimed the capture of bandit kingpin Baleri, a close ally of Bello Turji, and previously exaggerated reports about Bakoura’s injuries in airstrikes.

The true status of Bakoura remains unclear, reflecting the fog of war and the ongoing challenges facing the Lake Chad Basin, one of Africa’s longest-running conflict zones.