Boko Haram fighters 'surrender' as alleged chief killed

More than 260 Islamist militants have surrendered in north-eastern Nigeria, the military has said. Soldiers had also killed a man who featured in Boko Haram's propaganda videos pretending to be the group's leader Abubakar Shekau, it added. Last year, the military said that Shekau may have been killed, without providing any proof. Boko Haram has suffered heavy losses in recent weeks in battles in its stronghold of north-eastern Nigeria. The military said that 135 Boko Haram members surrendered with their weapons in Biu, Borno state, on Tuesday - and that 133 others surrendered elsewhere in north-eastern Nigeria. 'Eccentric character' The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says that the claims are impossible to verify. However, if they are true, it could be a major turning point for the army's campaign against Boko Haram militants, our correspondent adds.