The United States has officially declared the leader of the extremist Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, wanted and placed a $7 million bounty on his head.

In an announcement on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice Reward for Justice Programme says it would pay $7million to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the Boko Haram leader.

Also declared wanted are four other alleged terrorists believed to be spreading terrorism in the West African sub-region.

They include Mokhtar Belmokhtar, described as a one-eyed mastermind of the January deadly attack on a gas plant in Algeria, which left 37 foreigners dead. Authorities say anyone who could help facilitate his capture stands a chance of reaping $5 million.

A $5million bounty was also placed on Yahya Abou Al-Hammam an alleged terrorist believed to be behind the 2010 murder of an elderly French hostage in Niger.

Also being sought are Malik Abou Abdelkarim, described as a senior AQIM fighter and Oumar Ould Hamaha, spokesman for Mali’s Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO). America says it will pay $3 million each to anyone who could help facilitate their arrests.

The U.S. had on June 21, 2012, designated Mr. Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, under Executive Order 13224.

Mr. Shekau’s whereabouts have however remained unknown.

Last week, he released a video calling on other terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to support the struggle to enthrone an Islamic state in Nigeria.