Shekau told followers that not only was he still the leader of Boko Haram, but that al-Barnawi had been trying to stage a coup against him for some time and his claim was illegitimate.
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Sahara Reporters said that Shekau’s message was a clear sign of ideological differences and division among Boko Haram militants, who have suffered major losses in recent years.
As their fight picked up momentum under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram opened its doors to a wide array of brutally violent people. Counterterrorism operations, set in motion by President Muhamadu Buhari, have succeded in reducing the number of Boko Haram attacks in the country.
New Boko Haram chief Abu Musab al-Barnawi has vowed to continue the group’s onslaught against “disbelievers” across the Lake Chad region, including Nigeria, especially Christians he has accused of wanting to supplant Muslims.
“They strongly seek to Christianize the society”, he said.
Unconfirmed local reports suggest that fighting has already broken out between militants loyal to al-Banarwi and those allied to Shekau, says Al Amin.
He re-emerged this week after he was introduced as the new leader of the terrorist sect in an interview in the ISIS’ magazine al-Naba. They exploit the condition of those who are displaced under the raging war, providing them with food and shelter and then Christianizing their children.
The BBC reports that, “Abubakar Shekau’s outburst clearly shows that there are deep disagreements, which could translate into clashes between the foot soldiers loyal to the two leaders…”
According to analyst Jacob Zenn from the Jamestown Foundation, a research institute based in Washington DC, it follows a trend of extremist Islamic groups moving away from al-Qaida to the Islamic State. The crackdown by the Nigerian government and military has made significant progress in weakening the group.
Boko Haram last week ambushed a humanitarian convoy, killing three civilians including a United Nations employee, and causing the suspension of United Nations aid to volatile areas in the north-east.
Shekau pledged allegiance to al-Baghdadi and gave the Islamic State group its first franchise in sub-Saharan Africa in March 2015.
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In the last 18 months, forces of Nigeria and its neighbours have recaptured most of the territory once controlled by Boko Haram.
