Abubakar Shekau

Abubakar Shekau
Still image of Shekau from an undated video.
Born	between 1965 and 1975 Shekau, Yobe State, Nigeria
Other names	Darul Tawheed
Known for	Leader of Boko Haram
Military career
Allegiance	Boko Haram (2002–2016) Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (2015–present)
Years of service	2002–present
Battles/wars	Boko Haram insurgency

Abubakar Shekau, also known by the alias Darul Akeem wa Zamunda Tawheed, or Darul Tawheed ("the abode of monotheism") (Arabic: دار التوحيد‎‎), thought to be born between 1965 and 1975 is a Kanuri man known as the leader of Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant group that has declared loyalty to the Islamist militant group Islamic State of Iraq Syria (ISIS). He served as deputy leader to the group's founder, Mohammed Yusuf, until Yusuf was executed in 2009. Nigerian authorities believed that Shekau was killed in 2009 during clashes between security forces and Boko Haram until July 2010, when Shekau appeared in a video claiming leadership of the group. He has subsequently been reported dead with regularity, and is thought to use body doubles. In March 2015, Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Shekau is a Salafi. He has been described as possessing a photographic memory.

Shekau is an ethnic Kanuri, and also speaks Hausa, Fulani, Arabic, and English. He claims to be an intellectual and theologian who studied Islam "under a traditional cleric".

In videos Shekau posted online, he boasted often about his invincibility; mocked various armies; and stated that he "cannot be stopped" and "cannot die except by the will of Allah". He has also boasted of being in possession of armored tanks and other combat vehicles. His online videos frequently depict anti-American rhetoric, and he has made multiple threats to attack the U.S.

In June 2012 the United States Department of State designated Shekau as a terrorist and effectively froze his assets in the United States. Since June 2013, the Department has had a standing reward of US$7 million for information leading to Shekau's capture through its Rewards for Justice program. In addition, the Nigerian army has offered a ₦50 million reward (approximately US$300,000) for Shekau.