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Boko Haram Releases New Video, Claims Shekau Is Alive

A video purportedly released by the factional leader of insurgent group, Boko Haram, has debunked earlier claims by the military that Abubakar Shekau had been killed … Continue reading Boko Haram Releases New Video, Claims Shekau Is Alive


shekau, boko haram, video

shekau, boko haram, videoA video purportedly released by the factional leader of insurgent group, Boko Haram, has debunked earlier claims by the military that Abubakar Shekau had been killed or badly wounded in an air strike in August.

A man claiming to be Shekau appeared healthy in the video, speaking in Arabic, Hausa and Kanuri languages.

It is not clear when it was recorded, but the Islamic State terror group, to which Boko Haram has pledged allegiance, had announced that Shekau had been replaced as leader by Abu Musab Albarnawi .

But Shekau has challenged the I.S., insisting that he was still in charge.

Albarnawi, who was the group’s former spokesman, is said to be less aggressive in his operations, compared to Shekau who is mostly seen taunting the government as well as loudly proclaiming threats in his videos.

Major General Lucky Irabor during a tour of Adamawa State as part of the formations under his command earlier in September, had claimed that Shekau had indeed been killed.

Mere Propaganda

However, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, has described the video as mere propaganda and a show of desperation by the group.

He said that the video has confirmed earlier suspicion that the purported factional sect leader is mentally ill and unstable.

The Army also assured the public that they should not be bothered by the content of the video clip and reaffirmed the military’s resolve to clear out the remnants of the terrorists and rescue all persons held hostage, especially the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

However, he noted that a window still exists for the repentant militants who are willing to lay down their arms and adhere to the rule of law.

Previous Claims

It is not the first time that reports have been released by the military, confirming fatal attacks and eventually the death of Abubakar Shekau.

But he seemed to have reincarnated each time to debunk the military’s claims that he had been killed.

In October 2013, a similar video was released after the military had claimed that he was killed during a gun battle. The Department of State Security (DSS), however, rubbished the video, saying “the amateur replica cloned everything wrongly”.

According to their analysis, the Department of State Security observed certain procedures usually followed by the Boko Haram kingpin was not adhered to.

The security agency further said that “watching the recent video, one would notice that the movement of  ‘Shekau’s lips’ did not synchronise with the words as pronounced, apparently betraying a recorded message inefficiently manipulated to sustain a non-existent continuum in leadership, now in disarray”.

“Even at that, his attempt to mimick Shekau’s voice during the opening stanza soon gave in, and the impostor reverted to his real voice. The intonation was different as well as the fact that Abubakar Shekau does not drag his voice” they said.

They maintained that the “Fact is Abubakar Shekau was shot, critically injured and evacuated by his lieutenants to a conventional hospital outside Nigeria” insisting that “If he survived, time will tell”.

The group has since carried out more attacks with Shekau remaining a regular feature in their media propaganda.