Shekau speaks of his end in new video
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who was reportedly killed, has appeared on video for the first time in more than a year on Thursday.
In a video devoid of his usual confidence talk and defiant bluster, the terror group leader rejected the rumours of his death but signalled that his time as chief of the jihadist group may be coming to an end.
The video also lacked the usual taunts and denunciation of political leaders of previous videos and will likely be interpreted as an admission of defeat, the dejected-looking the dejected-looking Shekau declared: “For me the end has come”.
“This is a message of greeting and joy for you to see my face,” said Shekau, who in March 2015 pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in an audio message.
“This is my desire: that whoever sees this will hear nothing but greetings between me and you. Only Allah knows the rest, as you believed (and) as you submitted. For me the end has come.
“This is only the message I want to send to you for you to understand that this is certainly I. This is why I did this.
“May Allah protect us so that no hypocrite stands between us. May Allah protect us from the devil so that he doesn’t achieve his evil among us.
“May Allah protect us and may we stand firm on the path of Allah. I thank my creator.”
Unlike messages from the Nigerian Islamists at the end of 2014 and start of 2015, which were slickly edited and closely resembled those of the Islamic State group, the video was poorly shot.
It was also posted on YouTube rather than via Twitter accounts linked to IS supporters and websites linked to fellow jihadist groups, which had become the group’s preferred medium of communication.
The bearded Shekau, who looked thin, delivered a speech to his followers in front of a lime green background, with the Boko Haram black flag superimposed in crude graphics.
There was no indication of when or where the video was shot.
Shekau also referred in the past tense to the Borno state town of Gwoza, which Boko Haram overran in mid-2014 and declared a caliphate.
The town was later retaken in a military counter-offensive that has seen Boko Haram-controlled towns, villages and territory seized back over the last year.
Boko Haram supply lines are said to have been squeezed, preventing them for sourcing fuel for hit-and-run attacks and conventional fighting, although suicide bombings persist.
There have also been reports of fighters surrendering for lack of food. Shekau himself is said to be in hiding in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state, northeast Nigeria, currently targeted by the military.
Nigeria has claimed Shekau has been killed several times since the start of the deadly insurgency that has claimed at least 17,000 lives since 2009, only for him to reappear in video messages.
The military believes several lookalikes have since stood in for him.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
22 Comments
Where is the video ? Another propaganda message…
Go find it on youtube
The Muslim North should stop playing games with us. They know who set up Boko Haram, for what (political) purpose, and where Shekau is; Buhari even said recently that “Boko Haram has lost relevance” – which means it once had one! Please, they should just hasten the winding up of the Boko Haram gory agenda and let’s put the dark, bloody history behind, and move on. After, power is in their hands now, what else is BH existing for? But as can be seen, power obtained by shedding so much blood becomes a burden instead. They should deal with it.
I don’t believe anyone or group will set out to destroy itself the way we have seen with BH and the North.
The Muslim North should stop playing games with us. They know who set up Boko Haram, for what (political) purpose, and where Shekau is; Buhari even said recently that “Boko Haram has lost relevance” – which means it once had one! Please, they should just hasten the winding up of the Boko Haram gory agenda and let’s put the dark, bloody history behind us, and move on. After all, power is in their hands now, so what else is BH existing for? But as can be seen, power obtained by shedding so much blood becomes a burden instead. They should deal with it.
By their name you shall know them. “Witch Head”
When you are igbo, foolishness also come with the package!
You are simply a coward with nothing whatsoever in your deluded head, i believe you don’t even know where the idiot you guessed is your father is! perhaps that is why you ended up a phone snatcher, you are truly an artful dodger.
Punch newspaper and The Guardian have the same article written on their websites. Whose article was plagiarized? Quiet shameful https://www.punchng.com/boko-haram-leader-shekau-reappears-in-new-video/
Edward, with due respect, please go back to Punch and read paragraph 8, 9, 10 and 11. Then come back and tell me if they are here in the Guardian report.
It should be a syndicated report.
iInspire @ https://ObinnaOnyenali.com
Islm must b banned now…He still thank d islmc devil they named Allah his creator…Hehehehe ?
may God forgive you because you dont know what you are doing or saying
May Jesus open your eyes to see,whts islmc pigs did in Paris France,n Brussels Belgium ….Wht islmc BH,Alqueada, alshabab, ISIL are doing in todays world in d name of d Arabic islmc devil they call Allah..Thru d teachings of d pedophile Mhmmd. …
Say Amen to tht..”I know tht u may rant tht “mslms are not trrsts”….Ok bt all trrsts today are mslms, right?…
Lies and Proganda from Buhari and its Guardian News outlet. Nothing but lies
Igboman, jump into the lagoon!
Complete propaganda…This people think they are playing with the mind of kids…But even their own god will judge them for killing thousands of their own for the sake of power…But unsurprisingly, this is normal in Islam.
Wow! Shameless things…Amazingly, Nigerians bought this crap!
If your any president has seriously faced Boko Haram like Buhari is doing and not flip flopping on sensitive issues. The menace would be past by now.
http://www.nairasquare.com
Even Zoo animals can’t commit this shameful and inhuman act
Boko Haram must be captured life and brought to face Sharia Court. He must not be killed at once but to be in pain for the remaining part of his life .
we need peace in Nigeria. When there is peace, development will follow.
I would be shocked if thise stupid head is not Igbo. Most of my people reason like idiots and think from their bowels. Which political agenda of North did boko haram serve, when they made many people not to vote? Was it not your beloved GEJ that oversaw the growth and destruction of south east by kidnappers and robbers? Which political purpose did it solve?
We will review and take appropriate action.