Military destroys B’ Haram bunkers, cells in N’ East
AN audio message has emerged,purportedly from Islamist
militant group, Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau, in
which he denies he has been replaced.
According to the BBC’s Africa editor, Mary Harper, Shekau,
in the message addressed to the leader of the Islamic State
militant group to whom Boko Haram has pledged allegianc ,
said he was still in command.
He had not featured in the group’s recent videos, prompting
speculation he had been killed or incapacitated.
Meanwhile, barely three days after President Muhammadu
Buhari directed the Service Chiefs to end Boko Haram
insurgency in the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
yesterday bombarded and destroyed over three dozen
bunkers of the terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
A top military source yesterday in Maiduguri, said the co-
ordinated joint military operations in the forest will continue
and may extend to all Boko Haram “training camps and
cells” in the three affected states of Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa states.
Last week the Chadian president, Idriss Deby said he had
been replaced and was no longer in charge , a statement
Shekau described as
“blatant lies.”
“I am alive,” he said, adding: “I will only die when the time
appointed by Allah comes.”
The eight-minute-long recording mocked a recent statement
by President Muhammadu Buhari that Boko Haram would
be eliminated within three months.
Shekau took over as the group’s leader after its founder,
Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody in July 2009.
Under his leadership Boko Haram has become more radical
and has carried out more killings.
In numerous videos, Mr Shekau has taunted the Nigerian
authorities, celebrating the group’s violent acts including the
abduction of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls in April
2014.
Last month, Buhari said he would be willing to negotiate
with the Boko Haram leadership for the release of the
Chibok girls , depending on the credibility of those saying
they represented the group.
According to the BBC, a previous prisoner-swap attempt
ended in failure.
Although momentum is gathering for a concerted regional
offensive against the group, Boko Haram continues to carry
out horrific attacks, not only in Nigeria but in its neighbours
too.
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