Beyond his online boasts, however, relatively little is known about him. Born in north-east Nigeria and believed to be around 40, he was originally a fellow Islamic scholar and deputy to Yusuf. Like many of Boko Haram's followers, he is a member of the Kanuri ethnic group, who are spread throughout central Africa, and who were among the region’s most zealous embracers of Islam in the early Middle Ages. However, unlike Yusuf, his predecessor, he has shown no interest in any kind of dialogue with the Nigerian government, killing more moderate commanders if they challenge him. Even his own mother, who was briefly enlisted by Nigerian officials in a bid to persuade Shekau to lay down his arms, is said to think he is insane.