Abubakar Shekau, the elusive leader of the dreaded Boko haram sect has on Thursday said in an audio message that he is still around despite his reported ouster as head of the Nigeria-based jihadist group by the Islamic State (IS).
“People should know we are still around. We will never cause any discord among the people, we will live by the Koran,” Shekau said in a 10-minute audio message.
“This is our stand and we remain in our capacity as Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad,” he said using the Islamic name for the hardline jihadist group.
His voice was recognised by an AFP journalist familiar with previous messages he has posted on social media.
It was also confirmed as Shekau’s voice by Berlin-based expert Yan St-Pierre of the Modern Security Consulting Group (Mosecon).
“The person who posted on the internet is a very reliable source,” he said.
Shekau’s audio message was released in response to reports that he had been purportedly replaced by Sheikh Abu Musab al-Barnawi, a former IS spokesman. This information was contained in the latest edition of IS’s online weekly magazine Al-Naba, which was published on Tuesday.
In March 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to IS.
But Shekau dismissed Barnawi as an infidel who condoned living in an un-Islamic society without waging jihad.
Regarded as one of the most cruel men in the world, Shekau’s absence in recent months has sparked speculation about his fate and whether or not he had been deposed as leader.
This man is like a cat he really seems to have nine lives.
Manny the long lost MDB’er