Fidelis Soriwei, Adelani Adepegba, with agency report
Factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has resurfaced in a new video where he vowed to fight Nigeria and the world.
Speaking in the Hausa and Arabic languages, an online newspaper, TheCable
quoted Shekau as saying that he had no intention of waging war against
Muslims but threatened to carry out the “mother of all attacks” on
Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
Shekau also expressed loyalty to Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of Boko Haram affiliate, ISIS, but insisted
that he would never recognise Abu Musab Al-Barnawi as the leader of Boko
Haram.
Al-Barnawi’s appointment was made known
by the latest issue of an ISIS-owned magazine but Shekau rejected the
development, saying ISIS deceived him because he opposed their
principles.
In the new video, Shekau said the Al-Barnawi group was only seeking to “create division” among Boko Haram.
He said, “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.”
The video, which was released on Monday, marked Shekau’s first appearance since March 2016.
Responding, the Defence authorities have advised Nigerians to ignore the threats contained in the video released by Shekau.
The Acting Director, Defence
Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, told one of our correspondents on
the telephone on Monday that the military was not bothered by the new
video in which Shekau reportedly taunted President Muhammadu Buhari,
some security personnel and the international community.
He said it was the practice of the
insurgent group that anybody could assume the title of Shekau as leader
of the Boko Haram sect.
Abubakar said the military was
determined to flush out the insurgents from the nation’s territory and
would not engage in media war with them.
He said the military would remain
focused and not allow itself to be distracted by the comments attributed
to Shekau in the video.
Abubakar urged him and others with him to emulate those who had surrendered to the military by giving up their mission.
He said, “That’s rhetoric and that
doesn’t bother us; which Shekau and where did you see him? Remember,
anybody can replicate him. We know, they are dying elements and will die
alone soon. We are not ready for a media war which they like us to
engage in. Since they have failed forever in combat now, they want us to
go to media space.
“The remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists should not be deceived by the non-existent person called Shekau.
“He is gone and we advise other few
members with him to surrender now just like what the wise men among them
did to save their lives to better themselves and their country.
Otherwise, they will regret their continued defiance which will not save
them.”
Meanwhile, a committee set up by the
Federal Government has submitted its report on rule of engagement for
security agencies as part of strategies to retool the nation’s internal
security.
The Committee Chairman, Prof. Femi
Odekunle, who handed over the report to the Minister of Interior, Lt.
Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), on Monday in Abuja, said the report
was premised on the over line policy frame, that internal security was a
matrix that required cohesive approach.
This is contained in a statement by the Press Secretary to the minister, Osaigbovo Ehisienmen.
It said the committee took cognizance of
its terms of reference which amongst others, entailed assigning of
roles and responsibilities to stakeholders within the individual and
community in matters pertaining to public safety.
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