The disputed leader of Boko Haram says he is still in charge of Nigeria’s militant Islamist group despite a statement by so-called Islamic State that he had been replaced.
Abubakar Shekau denounced the IS declaration of Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the leader in an audio message.
Shekau accused al-Barnawi of trying to stage a coup against him.
Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow Nigeria’s government and establish an Islamic State in the north.
In the last 18 months it has lost most of the territory it had controlled after being pushed back by an offensive by the forces of Nigeria and its neighbours.
Boko Haram at a glance:
Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western-style education
Launched military operations in 2009
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, hundreds abducted, including at least 200 schoolgirls
Joined so-called Islamic State, calls itself IS’s “West African province”
Seized large area in north-east, where it declared caliphate
Regional force has retaken most territory
