By Erewunmi Peace

A recent investigative report claims that the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, once lived secretly in Kano under a false identity following a violent clash with security forces in 2009.

According to the report, Shekau was wounded during a 2009 attack on the police headquarters. To avoid capture, he was allegedly moved to Kano, where he reportedly adopted the alias “Alhaji Garba” and stayed in a rented home in a suburb of the city.

The report suggests that Shekau remained in hiding there while recovering from his injuries, evading authorities who were actively pursuing him at the time.

After the 2009 uprising and clashes with Nigerian security forces, Shekau was known to have gone underground, moving across northeastern Nigeria to avoid capture. While reports of his whereabouts have circulated over the years, details of him living in Kano under a false identity have not been officially verified.

Experts warn that claims about Shekau’s movements are difficult to confirm due to the secretive nature of Boko Haram leadership and repeated false-death reports.

“While it is plausible that Shekau used aliases and hid in urban areas, there is no public record from security agencies or courts confirming his stay in Kano,” said a security analyst.