Ibn Mohammed bin Shekau, the biological son of late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, has reportedly surfaced within the ranks of the insurgent group.

Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama shared this in a post on X, saying the development has raised fresh concerns about the possible continuation of the ideology and networks tied to his father.

According to Makama, Ibn Mohammed appears to be following in the footsteps of Shekau, one of the most notorious figures in Nigeria’s North-East insurgency. Shekau took over Boko Haram after the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and led it through some of its most violent periods.

Under his leadership, Boko Haram carried out attacks on communities, security personnel, government institutions, and other civilian targets across the North-East and neighbouring countries. Shekau was also known for his tough leadership style and for using propaganda videos to threaten governments and announce attacks.

His death in 2021, following a confrontation with fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), significantly changed the dynamics of the insurgency in the Lake Chad region, Makama added.