Founder of Boko Haram

Mohammed Yusuf (29 January 1970 – 30 July 2009), also known as Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, was a Nigerian militant who founded the Islamist mïlitant group Boko Haram in 2002. He was its leader until he was kïlled during the 2009 Boko Haram uprisïng.

Born in Girgi village, in Jakusko, present-day Yobe State, Nigeria, Yusuf received a University education. Later he studied more of Islam and became a Salafi.

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Mohammed Yusuf has received more than 4,284 page views. His biography is available in 18 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 15 in 2019).

It was reported that Yusuf was never as proficient in English as was reported. He believed in the strict application of Islamic law, which represented his ideal of justice.

Yusuf had four wives and 12 children, one of them being Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who claimed since 2016 to be the rightful leader of Boko Haram, opposing Abubakar Shekau.

He was reported as living a lavish lifestyle, supposedly owning a Mercedes-Benz.

Following the July 2009 Boko Haram uprising, the Nigerian military captured Yusuf. They transferred him to the custody of the Nigerian police force headquarters in Maiduguri, where he died in controversial circumstances.