The leader of Nigeria-based terror group BokoHaram is reported to have appeared in a new propaganda video after months of silence following the election victory of Muhammadu Buhari.
In the seven-minute-long footage, Abubakar Shekau stated that he was well, contrary to claims that he had been killed and replaced as head of the terrorist group.
"I have done my part. This message is just to reassure you that I'm alive and actually the one speaking to you,"he said in both Hausa and Arabic, according to the BBC.
Some Nigerian reports have suggested the leader urged Boko Haram members to "surrender to save themselves".
However, The ORIENTAL TIMES has not evaluated this claim.
The video emergedmonths after Chad's President Idriss Deby alleged MahamatDaoud had replaced Shekau as the leader ofBoko Haram. Shortly after, Shekau released an audio message denying the claim. The leader, however, had not appeared in a video in the past seven months.
Nigeria is leading a regional offensivewith 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin lined up against the terrorists. Although the Nigerian government has claimed several times the fight against the terrorists has been "technically" won, some analysts warned the group is still deadlyand able to inflict major casualtieson civilians and the military.
The last attack blamed on Boko Haram claimed 22 lives when female suicide bombers detonated explosivesinside and outside a mosque in northern Nigeria. Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, Nigeria's director of defence information, told IBTimes UK the "remnants of Boko Haram"could be behind the blasts, but added the fight against the terrorists was due to end soon.
Culled fromIB Times
COMMENTARY
`I have done my part` by Shekau, simply means `Buhari, I have helped you become head of state so my job is done`. It is well known that Buhari is the chief sponsor of BokoHaram with vatican stolen funds he has amassed over the years. This move by Shekau should make the world probe Buhari`s link with BH/ISIS, #Ezesays
Eze Afrika
