A Kaduna-based human rights activist, Shehu Sani, on Wednesday dismissed claims by the Joint Military Task Force in Maduguri that it has killed the leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau.

Sani further challenged the Nigerian military to produce the body of the presumed late leader of the sect to the public as  proof.

In an interview with Channels Television in Kaduna, Mr. Sani noted that the killing of Shekau, if true, will be  a victory  for the military, and the country in general.

He however maintained that until the body is found or the sect members make a proper announcement confirming his death, Nigerians should not take the claims of the JTF serious.

He added that the claim could be a security measure adopted by the military authorities to ascertain if the sect leader is actually dead or alive.

It will be recalled that Operatives of the Joint Task Force (Operation Restore Order) in Maiduguri on Monday said  the leader of dreaded Boko Haram, Ibrahim Shekau may have been killed in a gun battle with its forces.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said “Intelligence report available to the Joint Task Force Operation RESTORE ORDER revealed that Abubakur Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram Terrorists leader may have died”.

It added that Shekau “died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on 30 June 2013. Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide – a border community in Cameroun for treatment which he never recovered. It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August, 2013”.