‘Shekau’ denies military’s claim of killing followers, release of abductees

A man claiming to be Abubakar Shekau, leader of Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, has denied in a video that 5000 people held by the group have been freed by West African forces earlier in the week.

On Wednesday, Cameroun said regional forces had rescued the hostages, who were held in villages by the insurgents in an operation along the Nigeria-Cameroun border.

“You are telling lies that you killed 60 of our men and rescued 20 children and that you rescued 5,000 of your people, Paul Biya,” the man claiming to be Shekau said, referring to Cameroun’s President.

He also claimed responsibility for attacks earlier this week, including suicide bombings Maiduguri and a raid on Magumeri town, both in Borno State.

The military has said on several occasions that it has killed or wounded Shekau.