Borno-born journalist said to be a close ally of
Boko Haram, Ahmad Salkida, has dismissed the
reported killing of a top leader of the outlawed
Islamist sect.
Salkida, who is on self-exile in the United Arab
Emirates over alleged threats to his life, said he
has it on “authority” that Abubakar Shekau was
hale and hearty.
Writing on Twitter, Salkida, who is widely reported
to have had an unfettered access to the late Boko
Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, stated that
residents of the various communities in the north
east have yet to feel the positive impact of the
recent gains in the counter-insurgency operations.
Salkida claimed that Shekau, who he had
discussions with recently during a failed attempt
to negotiate an end to the continued incarceration
of the Chibok girls was not the one being
portrayed in a picture circulating online.
“Mark my words: I have it on authority that
Shekau is well and alive. The picture going round
is not the person who torments us with his
group,” the journalist who now works as an
import and export agent of agricultural products
and textile materials in Dubai, wrote on Twitter.
According to him, the Nigerian Army has only
been able to repel the taking over of Konduga and
Maiduguri but has failed in reclaiming the
communities overrun during the sect’s recent
expansionist drive.
He accused the security forces of taking the war
against terrorism to the pages of the newspapers
rather than committing energy and resources in
reclaiming the “lost territories.”
Nigerians, he said, must pray and support the
military forces, to ensure that the country records
victory in its attempt to root out the insurgents
from the north east.
“Konduga was a turning point for the Nigeria
Army but the journey to an assured future is still
long and tough. Nigeria must take this fight away
from pages of newspapers and confront it overly.
We are yet to get it right but Iet us pray for
victory for Nigeria.
“So far, no town taken by Boko Haram has been
reclaimed by the Nigeria Army. We were only able
to prevent Konduga and Maiduguri from falling.
Success in the war against terrorism should be
felt by those that are affected the most, and not
just in the media.
“If history is a mirror then what have we learnt?
To reclaim lost territories in the north east means
to restore peace and order by civil authorities. Is
this the case in the north east? I will leave the
answer to you. To reclaim lost territories in the
north east means to restore peace and order by
civil authorities in affected areas,” Salkida added.
But a northern-based human rights activist,
Shehu Sani, has said he was shocked to see the
news of the killing of Shekau make headlines,
again.
The rights campaigner, who also doubles as the
President of the Civil Rights Congress, said on
Facebook that the development was worrisome
as it was the “third time he (Shekau) was killed.”
He stated that he was expecting the insurgent
group to release a statement denouncing or
confirming the reported killing of its leader.
“The news of the killing of the Boko Haram leader
is in the headlines again. This is the third time he
was killed. It gives the nation a lot of relief but
only if it’s true. In a war situation, it’s difficult to
extract the truth from a misleading ‘morale,
boosting statements.’
“However, if the report is true, the group will
certainly make a statement and announce a new
head and if it’s not true, they will also respond.
This is what they did when their founder was
exterminated in 2009,” Sani argued.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has insisted
that the military was winning the war against
terrorism.
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris
Olukolade, wrote on Twitter that the insurgents
have of late suffered heavy losses especially in
Konduga.
“May I please let you know that Nigeria is
winning? We love to tell the troops too that
Nigerians are cheering. It will be victory for
Nigeria till infinity,” the defence spokesman
tweeted.
Olukolade, however, warned Nigerians against
attacking him on Twitter, stressing that he would
no longer condone all forms of hate speech on the
social network.
“This (social media) space will not allow hurling
of invective, caustic remarks of broiled-up hate.
Violent and abusive languages are not allowed.
Every social network is against hateful messages;
I won’t hesitate to hit the block button. Every
community must be moderated. This is my
account, thank you,” the army general warned.

Truth withut proof is a fabu... Any proofs? I am not a thomas i ave jst been happy dat d terroriser or our tourist Nigeria has been killed. So i need proofs that its a lie

Everytime the same military troop report killing one And the same person three times. Please how many lives does a terrorist have?

Let's shekau cum out n say by himself dat he is alive. N stop d false rumors.

Preciousone4ril: Let's shekau cum out n say by himself dat he is alive. N stop d false rumors.

You are very correct!

Hmmm...

akinladejo:



You are very correct!

Yes oooo! But by the way...wat kinda job is boko haram negogiator? Dat guy shld b probe for d chibok gals whereabout!

na dem sabi, make I prepare for work

Let's c his latest Video den,or else he's in Hell now regretting wat he did to Nigerians!

Abeg jor media circulations mislead everybody we non know which one to believe now them done turn everybody to goat wey dey chew paper