The United States Government has launched a probe
into the report that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is dead in a bid to
authenticate the claim by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which had on Monday
announced his possible death following gunshot injuries he sustained in a clash
with Nigerian troops.
into the report that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is dead in a bid to
authenticate the claim by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which had on Monday
announced his possible death following gunshot injuries he sustained in a clash
with Nigerian troops.
The announcement that “Shekau might
have died between July 25 to 3 August” in Amitchide, Cameroun, after being
“mortally wounded” in an encounter with JTF at the Sambisa Forest on
June 30, has been greeted with disbelief as the task force did not produce any
proof beyond relying on intelligence report to back up its claim.
have died between July 25 to 3 August” in Amitchide, Cameroun, after being
“mortally wounded” in an encounter with JTF at the Sambisa Forest on
June 30, has been greeted with disbelief as the task force did not produce any
proof beyond relying on intelligence report to back up its claim.
But the federal government, worried by the
cynicism that has greeted the announcement of Shekau’s death, which some
defence officials have described as being hasty, yesterday pleaded with
Nigerians to resolve their doubts about the demise of the nation’s chief
terrorist in favour of the military.
cynicism that has greeted the announcement of Shekau’s death, which some
defence officials have described as being hasty, yesterday pleaded with
Nigerians to resolve their doubts about the demise of the nation’s chief
terrorist in favour of the military.
US State Department Deputy spokesperson,
Ms. Marie Harf, while responding to a question in Washington DC on
Tuesday on whether US had any information about the possible death of Shekau,
said: “We have seen these reports and (we) are working to ascertain the
facts.”
Ms. Marie Harf, while responding to a question in Washington DC on
Tuesday on whether US had any information about the possible death of Shekau,
said: “We have seen these reports and (we) are working to ascertain the
facts.”
US last year had labelled Shekau and two other
key figures in Boko Haram as “specially designated global terrorists”
and followed up in June by announcing a $23 million reward for anyone who could
help track down five leaders of deadly militant groups spreading terror in West
Africa with the highest sum of $7 million placed on Shekau’s head.
key figures in Boko Haram as “specially designated global terrorists”
and followed up in June by announcing a $23 million reward for anyone who could
help track down five leaders of deadly militant groups spreading terror in West
Africa with the highest sum of $7 million placed on Shekau’s head.
Commenting on his reported death, Harf described
Shekau as the most visible leader of Boko Haram, adding, “if his death –
it turns out to be true, the loss of such a central and well known figure would
set back Boko Haram’s operations and remove a key voice from its efforts to
mobilise violent extremists in Nigeria and around the world.”
Shekau as the most visible leader of Boko Haram, adding, “if his death –
it turns out to be true, the loss of such a central and well known figure would
set back Boko Haram’s operations and remove a key voice from its efforts to
mobilise violent extremists in Nigeria and around the world.”
She however added that that was not the first
time the Boko Haram leader would be declared dead, adding, “as many of you
know, he was also falsely reported dead in 2009.”
time the Boko Haram leader would be declared dead, adding, “as many of you
know, he was also falsely reported dead in 2009.”
Noting that US would continue to support Nigeria
as it works to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace in the North, the US
official recalled that as recent as August 15, Under Secretary Wendy Sherman
was in Nigeria where she held discussions about regional security, including
how both countries could further partner to develop and implement effective counterterrorism
measures.
as it works to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace in the North, the US
official recalled that as recent as August 15, Under Secretary Wendy Sherman
was in Nigeria where she held discussions about regional security, including
how both countries could further partner to develop and implement effective counterterrorism
measures.
Source: Thisday
