“Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter — on 30 June, when
soldiers raided a Boko Haram base at Sambisa Forest — and was sneaked
into Amitchide – a border community in Cameroon for treatment… It is
greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August
2013,” Col Musa said.
[BBC, 19th August 2013]
October 1st last year, on the US Intelligence think-tank website, the
Council of Foreign Relations (CFR), an expert on Nigeria, Jacob Zenn
writing for former Ambassador John Campbell, acknowledged imposter
videos of Boko Haram leader Shekau. His words, “In the August video, the
possible look-alike’s message was similar to Shekau’s, however,
including threats to Obama, Hollande, and Netanyahu.”....
But on May 29th of 2013 Abubakar Shekau was said by France media, to have…
Released a video in which he ‘supported the massacre at a Nigerian
school.’ The video was never released but a still image from the video,
seen on the Yahoo hosted news link below was clearly a Photoshop
fabrication, supporting evidence that imposter videos of Shekau were the
new norm:
[http://uk.news.yahoo.com/boko-haram-leader-says-supports-nigeria-school-massacre-070152245.html#IE3oL5E]
There have been no new videos of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau
that have been released through the usual channels to Nigeria’s media
used prior to his stated death. All new purported videos have
surprisingly come from a single source, France news, and have been
released as 10 second clips, sometimes of old videos with superimposed
vocals. One that was released in August, which was determined fake, had a
rather chubby ‘Shekau’ quickly chew his stick as a sort of proof, after
Nigeria’s security department had presented its conclusions that a
prior release was fake because among other things, Shekau did not chew
his stick. It was likewise just a ten second clip.
The most recent video said to have been released by the same foreign
media this February 20th in which the cult leader was said to have
threatened two Nigeria former president’s, Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim
Babangida, the Shehu of Borno, Emir of Kano and Nigeria’s refineries
came from the same single French media source and again, two days after,
the purported video has again not been released to the public.
The Nigerian media has been rather unprofessional in relaying
messages of alleged videos without first obtaining copies of the videos
to confirm their authenticity. With the gullibility and eagerness of
most Nigerian news websites to publish transmitted information, the
actual videos if existent are usually never even released and
mischievous misinformation that threatens the sovereignty and security
of Nigeria are easily redistributed for whatever reasons.
Shekau loyalists may be at the head of transmitting these fake videos
and Photoshop images to foreign media. Unfortunately we cannot rely on
foreign media to work in the best interest of Nigeria, vetting and
scrutinizing actual or purported videos. They too seek relevance and
publicity hits. The duty to clear up the Nigerian media sphere is that
of our indigenous media who need to take a minute longer to crosscheck
reports before releasing these. Every error costs lives.
Boko Haram is a serious and real threat, however media must be
careful not to fall into the hands of agents both local and foreign who
may not have Nigeria’s best interest at heart. Essential to combating
the threat of terrorism is not only economic and military approaches,
but the media role in careful dissemination of factual information that
does not further the cause of the terrorists.
It was noted that during the recent attacks on Bama and Izghe,
several leading global media reported the attacks which claimed mostly
Muslim lives, as an attack on a ‘Christian farming village that killed
dozens of Christians.’ This dangerous misrepresentation of the facts of
the attack, which were later corrected by accurate reports from the
ground and state governor, constitute a threat to Nigeria and careless
provocation toward ethnic tension. Dead victims are dead innocent
victims, and killers are killers. Counting the dead by religious markers
is not a matter of news for civilized humans and worse yet should not
be misreported as occurred. Nigeria’s media must watch this, not to be
used as tools.
As far as Nigeria is concerned, Abubakar Shekau is dead or
indisposed. If he is still alive, we challenge him to produce a 10
minute, clear video in which he walks, gestures and talks, as he used to
do prior to reports of his death earlier last year. Shekau should also
release this video to multiple sources in its original form and not
through a single foreign channel.
The Nigerian government must take the threat of Boko Haram terrorism
seriously. In May of 2012, the Jonathan government promised to release
the list of Boko Haram sponsors. This should be done immediately if the
safety and security of Nigerian citizens and military men and women is a
government priority. Nigeria’s public needs and demands regularly
updated list of sponsors of terror and wanted terrorists. Usually the
few suspect names ever known are those released by foreign intel. This
is terribly wrong.
The nation’s security department under NSA Sambo Dasuki must also
take it upon itself to fulfill its duties not just in pursuing
terrorists and their sponsors, but in properly, promptly and adequately
informing the general public on such matters of national security. The
war against terror must be conducted with the people.
Nigeria’s army needs to receive proper funding and supervised,
audited purchase of military equipment as it is now evident that the
Nigerian army lacks sufficient equipment to execute its duty, safely and
efficiently. The people are losing faith in the capacity of the
government to protect life as was stated again by the Shehu of Bama.
Hundreds of lives are being massacred, women raped and homes and
businesses burned as Boko Haram terrorists ravage our border towns
patiently in operations that last as long as 8 hours, like the recent
one at Bama and Izghe.
It is also appealed that foreign governments who know many Boko Haram
political and elite sponsors, take decisive action against them and
their investments abroad, in the best interest of the Nigerian masses
who are dangerously compromised by government inaction.
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