On Saturday, December 24, President Muhammadu Buhari announced that the Nigerian military had succeeded in liberating Sambisa forest, one of Boko Haram’s hideout.
Four days later, the Nigerian Army briefed journalists in Maiduguri, Borno state capital about the way the military outfit led other armed forces to take over what is now known as Camp Zero, Boko Haram’s stronghold in Sambisa forest.
But in a swift response, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a new video today, December 29, to deny claims that the insurgent group has been crushed and flushed out of its Sambisa forest stronghold.
According to Shekau, he and his members are safe and have not been flushed out of anywhere.
The Boko Haram leader urged the government to stop telling lies to the people in the 25-minute video.
Here the top things he said in the new video
1. “It is a big lie that the military has flushed out Boko Haram.”
2. “It is only what Allah destined on them that will happen to them.”
3. “Our power is not from human beings but it’s from the divine power of Allah.”
4. “The federal government and the army said they captured over 1,000 Boko Haram suspect, but this is far from the truth.”
5. “All the advanced countries like Italy, Germany, France, USA are wasting their time by saying they are assisting Nigeria to wage war against Boko Haram.”
6. “Democracy is a devilish system of government as well as the use of the constitution.”
7. “The only thing we recognise as our constitution is the Glorious Qur’an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad.”
8. “Why will Muslims and President Buhari associate themselves with Christmas, Christians are totally on the wrong path as they do not follow the true teachings of Jesus Christ.”
9. “It is our faith that has been helping us, it is not the arms and ammunition.”
10. “It is only Allah that can take my life.”
However, the authenticity of the video cannot be immediately verified and may have been shot long before the destruction of Camp Zero by the Nigerian armed forces.
Also, the Shekau in the video appears slightly different from the former one
But on its part, the Nigerian Army dismissed the new video released by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau as mere propaganda.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman said the attention of the Nigerian Army is drawn to a video clip released by Boko Haram from an undisclosed location a while ago, showing its purported leader, making spurious claims.
He said: “While effort is ongoing to subject the video for further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest.”
He added that: “We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people and to remain relevant.”
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