Multiple sources reported that al-Barnawi was killed in 2021, but later research by the Crisis Group, Humangle Media, and others proved that these claims were inaccurate.

[10][11] On 7 March 2015, Abubakar Shekau released an audio message in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic State.

"[12] However, the fracture ultimately resulted in the reemergence of a separate faction, generally called "Boko Haram", led by Shekau, and opposed to IS and ISWAP.

[13] On 3 August 2016, the Islamic State reported in the 41st issue of its newspaper al-Naba, that Abu Musab al-Barnawi had been appointed the new leader of their West African branch.

Neither the Islamic State's top leadership, nor members of its West Africa branch officially commented on the claims, resulting in speculations about the reported dismissal.

[20] Later research by the Crisis Group concluded that Abu Musab had stepped down after being challenged by other ISWAP senior commanders who considered him too young for a leader.

[26][27] It was confirmed by ISWAP sources that Abu Musab had been wounded in a clash with Boko Haram loyalists around this time, though Islamic State members did not comment on the allegations of his death.

As per these claims, Abu Musab had actually been appointed to IS central's global shura (advisory) council and was involved in coordinating IS operations beyond the Chad Basin.

[2] This report was mirrored by interviews by Crisis Group researchers with ISWAP members who stated that Abu Musab had been given a "larger, though unspecified, African mandate" as he was recovering from a wound.