MILITARY REACTS TO NEW SHEKAU VIDEO; INSIST ABUBAKA SHEKAU’S IMPOSTOR IS DEAD
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has dismissed a new Boko Haram video showing its leader “Abubakar Shekau” who the military said was killed some days back during a battle with federal troops in Konduga, Borno State. However, the military has maintained that the real Abubakar Shekau was killed by his lieutenants a few years back and that his imposter who it identified as Bashir Mohammed was killed by soldiers during the battle at Konduga town in Borno State. The military further backed its claim with incontrovertible photo evidence which seemed to confirm that Bashi Mohammed was indeed impersonating the slain Abubakar Shekau.
In a statement reacting to the new video, the Defence Headquarters said it is studying the claims made in the video by “Abubakar Shekau” dismissing his death. “From immediate observation and what some online news outlets claimed to have seen, the video did not indicate when it was shot neither did it show any proof of life or currency such as screen time or date. The video also did not make any reference to anything that has happened since the impostor’s reported death,” the statement said. The DHQ further said, “It is also noteworthy that the air plane said to be mentioned in the video had been missing before he was killed. It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists decide to manipulate pictures, clone another Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video all in a bid to prove invincible.
“As far as we are concerned, the individual who was appearing in video and claiming to be the leader of the terrorist group was killed in the Kondunga battle in September. The resemblance of the corpse and that of the eccentric character was incontrovertible. His identity was equally corroborated by people who knew him before we announced his death. So, while waiting to see the new video before any further statement, our message to them is that justice will be served to whoever bears that name or designation…”
In a statement reacting to the new video, the Defence Headquarters said it is studying the claims made in the video by “Abubakar Shekau” dismissing his death. “From immediate observation and what some online news outlets claimed to have seen, the video did not indicate when it was shot neither did it show any proof of life or currency such as screen time or date. The video also did not make any reference to anything that has happened since the impostor’s reported death,” the statement said. The DHQ further said, “It is also noteworthy that the air plane said to be mentioned in the video had been missing before he was killed. It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists decide to manipulate pictures, clone another Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video all in a bid to prove invincible.
“As far as we are concerned, the individual who was appearing in video and claiming to be the leader of the terrorist group was killed in the Kondunga battle in September. The resemblance of the corpse and that of the eccentric character was incontrovertible. His identity was equally corroborated by people who knew him before we announced his death. So, while waiting to see the new video before any further statement, our message to them is that justice will be served to whoever bears that name or designation…”
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