He points to the formation of Ansaru, a splinter group formed in 2012 on the back of ideological differences and a leadership struggle between Shekau and a high-ranking Boko Haram commander known as Khalid al-Barnawi. This is indeed a lie. “If it were true, my voice wouldn’t have been heard, now that I am speaking”.
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In a series of tweets, Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group-a US-based consultancy that monitors global terrorism networks-quoted from the Shekau’s audio message sent to ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
He had not featured in the group’s recent videos, prompting speculation he had been killed or incapacitated.
“Here I am, alive”.
It was not clear how Deby had obtained his information, although rumours have been circulating recently that Shekau was on the run or had fled Nigeria as a result of increased military operations against Boko Haram.
However, a Chadian who resides at Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and has been following Boko Haram activities in his home-country in recent times told Sunday Sun the man named as the new Boko Haram helmsman is “very likely” a Chadian.
In the newly released audio Shekau described himself as the governor of the Islamic State in West Africa.
The military under Buhari’s predecessor Goodluck Jonathan was heavily criticised for poor handling of the insurgency and its failure to free more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from the northeastern town of Chibok in April past year.
“Whether Shekau is dead or alive, we are determined to crush Boko Haram”, army spokesman Sani Usman said in a phone interview on Monday from Abuja.
Mr Deby, whose troops have been involved in battling Boko Haram, said Mr Daoud was open to dialogue.
Wase said Shekau sounds subdued in the recording, perhaps an indication that he had to flee or was wounded in the ongoing fighting between the militaries of Nigeria and its neighbors against the insurgents.
Given the many previous reports of Shekau’s demise, followed soon after by videos of him brandishing automatic weapons and spouting invective against the Nigerian state, analysts and diplomats are treating the claims with caution.
As the multiple territorial losses of Boko Haram in Nigeria have significantly undermined its image, these suicide attacks may be an attempt to create a perception of strength and to bolster the group’s image as a regional threat.
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The group has released at least five videos since then but Shekau has not appeared in any of them.
