•Shekau, B’Haram leader, vows in new video
By Beifoh Osewele
Abubakar Shekau, factional leader of Boko Haram has resurfaced in a new video, vowing to fight Nigeria and the world.
Speaking in Hausa and Arabic, Shekau said he had no intention of waging war against Muslims, and threatened to carry out the “mother of all attacks” on Abuja, capital of Nigeria.
The threat is coming on the heels of claims by the Federal Government that the militant group has been wiped out.
While he expressed loyalty to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of Boko Haram affiliate, ISIS, Shakau said he would never recognise Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, as leader of Boko Haram.
The group also threatened attack on army chief Yusuf Buratai, and spokesperson Usman.
Al-Barnawi’s appointment was made known by the latest issue of an ISIS-owned magazine, but Shekau vehemently rejected the development, saying ISIS deceived him because he opposed their principles.
In the 24-minute video, Shekau said: “We have no desire to fight our Muslim brethren,” an apparent reference to IS.
He said the Al-Barnawi group was only seeking to “create division” among Boko Haram.
“I, Abubakar Ash-Shakawy (Shekau), the leader of Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, made it a duty for myself to fight Nigeria and the whole world. We have no desire to fight our Muslim brethren. I’m alive by the permission of Allah.
“Let the government of Nigeria and West Africa not celebrate or gloat over the division between us and our brothers….We will shock them with attacks never seen before, in no-distant time.
“They (the Abu Musab group) do nothing but to create division among our people without an iota of contribution to the jihad.
“This is time to fight; it is the time of jihad. We are not killing fellow Muslims. We are not calling Muslims non-believers. We fight and kill those who God has ordered to be fought, those we call non-believers are people so called by God.”
In the new video, the militant leader condemned Western countries including the United States, France, Germany and “the tyrants of the United Nonsense (UN).”
Also, he ridiculed suggestions that he was dead, and looked more composed and energetic than in previous appearances. “I’m alive by the permission of Allah,” he said in his speech in Arabic and Hausa, adding that he would only die when his time came. He last appeared in March.
We’ve defeated Boko Haram, Buratai insists
From Murphy Ganagana, Jos
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai, yesterday, restated that the Nigerian Army has crushed the Boko Haram insurgency and deprived members of the dreaded fundamentalist sect from re-grouping in the country.
He stated this when he paid a courtesy visit on the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, in his palace in Jishe, Jos.
Buratai, who was on a familiarization tour of military units and formations under the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, said the military had incapacitated the insurgents.
“Your Royal Majesty, I’m here this morning to pay a courtesy call on you before embarking on my familiarisation tour to units and formations under the 3 Division and, indeed, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Plateau State.
“You can see that our efforts in the Northeast has really paid off as you can recall the incessant bombing of market places and different places of worships and populated areas has virtually stopped. And I can assure you and the people of Plateau State that they will never witness Boko Haram attacks like you witnessed in the past,” Buratai said.
“For a long time now, we have not had any cases of that nature here on the Plateau and other parts of Nigeria, it is because of the efforts of the military in the Northeast. The Nigerian Army has not only succeeded in rooting them from their camps in the North-East, we have been able to block these criminal elements from crossing down to this areas or building their camp anywhere in Nigeria.
“I want to assure you that we would remain resolute in the discharge of our duties, I want to, particularly, commend you on your role as the Gbong Gwom Jos, including all the moral support you gave us through wise counsel. We must acknowledge your support.
“Apart from you, I want to also acknowledge the cooperation of Plateau people to the Nigerian Army; it is a fact that we have received excellent cooperation and understanding, especially, towards the Nigerian Army operating in Plateau State. I know there has been little challenges here and there, and the most recent one is the one that happened last two to three weeks or about, but, not withstanding, we still got your full backing and full support; and the Army, in particular, will ensure that we maintain the needed peace at all time.
“The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, just assumed duty. I, personally, chose him to head this command because of his experience, knowledge and diplomatic skills when he was the Chief of Civil Military Affairs in Army Headquarters. I want to assure you that the Army will give all within its duties as enshrined in the Constitution, and we want to reassure you that permanent peace will return to Plateau State,” the Chief of Army Staff said.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba said the success of the Nigerian Army over Boko Haram did not come to me as a surprise.
“ I know very well that the Nigerian Army, historically, has always distinguished itself wherever it had served; and today, that particular history played itself out,” he said.
