Shekau: I’m not dead
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has shown up again in a video, boasting and yelling as usual.
He said he was
not killed, contrary to what the military said.
But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said it was all lies and propaganda.
It insisted that the impostor claiming to be Shekau had been killed in the battle of Konduga in Borno State.
The DHQ, in a statement issued in Abuja, said it was still studying the video.
It said: “The Defence Headquarters is studying the claims made in the video purportedly released by the terrorists showing their leader Abubakar Shekau as dismissing his death.“From immediate observation and what some online news outlets claimed to have seen, the video did not indicate when it was shot, neither did it show any proof of life or currency such as screen time or date.“The video also did not make any reference to anything that has happened since the impostor’s reported death.“It is also noteworthy that the air plane said to be mentioned in the video had been missing before he was killed.“It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists decide to manipulate pictures, clone another Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video, all in a bid to prove invincible.“As far as we are concerned, the individual who was appearing in video and claiming to be the leader of the terrorist group was killed in the Kondunga battle in September.“The resemblance of the corpse and that of the eccentric character was incontrovertible. His identity was equally corroborated by people who knew him before we announced his death.”
While still conducting thorough investigation into the new claims in the purprted video, the military promised that justice will be served to whoever bears that name or designation and whoever engages in act.”
In the 36-minute video, a man claiming to be Shekau appeared, contradicting the military’s reports that he was killed.
Screen grabs of the video, seen by Reuters, show a figure in boots and combat fatigues who looks similar to the man claiming to be Shekau in previous videos.
“Here I am, alive. I will only die the day Allah takes my breath,” he says in Hausa language, reported the French News Agency (AFP), which normally receives Boko Haram tapes first, before they are distributed online.
The military said last week that the man who had been posing as Shekau in the group’s growing number of videos had been killed in clashes over the town of Konduga.
The military announced the death of Shekau himself a year ago, saying he had died in battle.
After that, the man appearing in videos as Shekau did look different from before, with a wider nose, less defined bridge and a rounder face.
In the most recent video, Shekau says “nothing will kill me until my days are over … Some people asked you if Shekau has two souls. No, I have one soul, by Allah,” AFP said.
Boko Haram, whose violent five-year campaign for an Islamic state has killed thousands, has in the past two months progressed from bombings, raids and kidnappings to trying to seize territory.
In the video, the Shekau figure declared the remote areas they control near Cameroon as “Muslim territory”, echoing the declaration of a caliphate by militants in Iraq and Syria.
Bellicose as ever, Shekau stands on the back of a pick-up truck, firing an anti-aircraft gun into the air. The video also shows people being stoned to death and being given lashes, both traditional Islamic punishments.
The video also shows Boko Haram fighters picking through the wreckage of an aircraft they claim to have shot down. The DHQ is still looking for a an Air Force jet that went missing more than two weeks ago.
“Standing in front of three camouflaged vans and flanked by four heavily armed, masked fighters, he then speaks for 16 minutes in Arabic and the Hausa language widely spoken in Northern Nigeria.
“There was no indication of where or when the video was shot. Shekau appears in separate images from the violence.
“The heavily bearded Shekau, who appeared to be the same man as those in previous clips, said the military’s claim that he was dead was propaganda.
AFP said: “Boko Haram has shown images of extreme violence before but the latest video shows at length graphic scenes of an amputation and a stoning to death as well as a beheading.
“It also purports to show the wreckage of a Nigerian Air Force jet that went missing in the northeast on September 11. Boko Haram said its fighters shot it down but the military denied the claim.
“Elsewhere in the new video, the militant leader said the group had implemented strict Islamic law in the towns that it had captured in the northeast in recent weeks.
“We are running our caliphate, our Islamic caliphate. We follow the Koran… We now practise the injunctions of the Koran in the land of Allah,” he said.
“The video showed footage of a man being stoned to death for adultery, another having his right hand cut off at the wrist for theft and a man and a woman receiving 100 lashes for sex out of wedlock.
“Crowds of men, women and children are seen watching the punishments.
There was again no indication of when or where the images were shot but on August 21, residents who fled the Borno town of Buni Yadi reported that the group had carried out summary executions.
“The scenes of graphic violence are not unprecedented but come as other groups in the wider jihadi network, particularly Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, have issued similar footage.
“In a Boko Haram video obtained on August 24, footage showed the apparent execution of about 20 men captured in the Borno town of Gwoza and two others beaten to death with rocks and pick-axes.
“On the Air Force jet, Boko Haram fighters are seen apparently picking through the wreckage of the downed Alpha aircraft and the military’s green and white logo is clearly visible.
But Air Force spokesman, air Commodore Dele Alonge told AFP: “Our plane went missing some weeks back and we are still looking for it.
“For any group to claim they shot it down is mere propaganda and rubbish.”
It was gathered yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan convened a meeting of the Security Council.
It was learnt that the session was to “re-appraise the security situation in the country, including the North-East, Nasarawa, Plateau and Ekiti states”.
An hour before the meeting started, Shekau’s video was released.
A top source said: “With the release of the video by Boko Haram, there was no way the council will not discuss the latest development.
“All I know is that immediately the video was released, intelligence and military experts started analysing it vis-a-vis the information at the disposal of the military about two weeks ago when Shekau was declared killed in encounters with troops.
“We are studying the clip, we will not rush into judgment. At the appropriate time, the military will react to Shekau’s latest claim through our usual channels.
DHQ probes report on Shekau’s condition
The Defence Headquarters yesterday launched a probe into the alleged “killing ” of the Spiritual Leader of Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau in the encounters in Konduga with insurgents.
Intelligence sources have been analyzing the features of a top commander of the sect who was mauled down in the encounters on September 17.
The fallen commander was said to have “the same character as someonewho has been posing as Shekau.”
A few months ago, the Directorate of State Security had declared Shekau dead in a battle. It declared the person who appeared in a video as an impostor.
The DHQ pledged to address the nation after ascertaining the truth or otherwise of the claim by troops.
According to senior military and intelligence sources, “a commander sharing the features of Shekau was hit and fallen.”
One of the sources said: “The DHQ has received reports of alleged fallen of Boko Haram leader, Imam Shekau by troops.
The Defence Headquarters will soon address the nation after full investigation of their latest discovery.
The source gave background to the ongoing probe by the DHQ.
He said: “Nigerian troops might have scored a strategic victory in the current battle against terrorists operating in the Northeast on September 17.
“During a desperate attempt to capture Konduga in their delusion to eventually marching on and capturing Maiduguri, the man who had been mimicking Late Abubakar Shekau in recent videos might have been killed.
“It is getting more certain that the terrorists’ commander who has been mimicking Shekau in those videos was the one killed in Konduga on September 17, 2014.”
“The suspected demise of the Boko Haram leader is responsible for the scattering of the sect members in different independent locations in the neighbouring countries, especially in Cameroon noticed in recent days.
Another military source said: “The process of confirming that the body we have is the same as that character who has been posing as Shekau is ongoing.
“He is definitely a prominent terrorist commander. I don’t want to say anything about this yet please.”
A third high-ranking military source insisted that the “resemblance is too striking to be a coincidence.
“The troops cited his facial marks, beards and teeth apart from the recovery by the Nigerian troops of some of the Armoured Vehicles and Hilux jeeps that had featured in previous videos of the prime suspect.
Arms surrendered by the insurgents
Five Boko Haram insurgents surrender, says DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Sunday said five Boko Haram insurgents have surrendered after encounters in Konduga.
The insurgents were said to have pleaded for mercy after surrendering their weapons.
The DHQ, which made the disclosure in a tweet on Sunday , said some captured insurgents were already giving useful information.
The tweet said: “As the heat on terrorists continues, 5 terrorists yesterday surrendered with all their weapons to troops in Konduga pleading for mercy
“Other captured terrorists have also been giving useful information on the subsequent plans of the group in an apparent offer to cooperate.
The insurgents were said to have pleaded for mercy after surrendering their weapons.
The DHQ, which made the disclosure in a tweet on Sunday , said some captured insurgents were already giving useful information.
The tweet said: “As the heat on terrorists continues, 5 terrorists yesterday surrendered with all their weapons to troops in Konduga pleading for mercy
“Other captured terrorists have also been giving useful information on the subsequent plans of the group in an apparent offer to cooperate.
Boko Haram on the rampage again in Adamawa villages
Many people were killed and houses destroyed in Adamawa State villages – Kubi and Watu – in Michika Local Government Area, by rampaging Boko Haram fighters yesterday.
According to some of the villagers who spoke to reporters, the insurgents overran the villages in the early hours of yesterday as the people were sleeping.
Many of the dead were trapped in the fires set to their houses by the insurgents.
A village source who said his village had been completely destroyed said: “The insurgents have burnt our houses and some of our children, women and old men were trapped in the inferno. The fire is still burning because there was nobody to put off the fire. I don’t know why they are so angry and mercilessly killing anybody they come across this time,” he said
Another source said: “Since the complete take-over of Michika and Madagali by the insurgents on September 7, there are no more soldiers guarding the towns. The only thing now is that jet fighters come from Yola to drop bombs and go back. Our people are in a complete state of helplessness. Government seems not to be coming to our aids as the insurgents control everything in our local government.
Three Boko Haram members sentenced to 25 years each
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced three Boko Haram members to 25 years imprisonment each.
However, journalists were not allowed to cover the judgment.
Only lawyers in the prosecution and defence teams were allowed in court.
A source, who witnessed the verdict, but craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told reporters that the fourth defendant was acquitted.
The court, on December 3 last year, barred journalists from covering the trial of 17 suspected members of the sect.
Justice Ibrahim Buba made the order following an application by the Lagos State Attorney-General and prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ade Ipaye.
Men of the Department of Security Services (DSS) had prevented journalists from covering the suspects’ arraignment last November 27.
The accused are – Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, Musa Audu, Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.
The Attorney-General, it was learnt, had entered a nolle prosequi (Latin for “do not prosecute”) in respect of two of the defendants, who were subsequently discharged.
Later, another 11 were also discharged in the course of the trial following another nolle prosequi by the prosecution.
Only four – the first to fourth defendants – went through a full trial.
The suspects were first charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organisation.
They allegedly committed the offences on March 21 last year, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and at No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.
They were alleged to have in their possession three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK47 rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunitions.
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