leader Shekau surfaces in new video, denies fall of Sambisa

Author: Akinyemi Akinrujomi

- Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says in the latest video that reports of the group being crushed by the Nigerian Army during the capture of its Sambisa forest stronghold Camp Zero were untrue

- Shekau also claims that the group is safe and far away from any location where the Nigerian military can capture its members or defeat it

- The authenticity of the video is not yet confirmed and the video could have been shot several days or weeks before the capture of Camp Zero and besides, the Shekau in the video appears slightly different from the former one

- In answer to NAIJ.com's call to comment on the matter, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army Brigadier-General Sani Kukasheka Usman said the security outfit has yet to see the video and to confirm its authenticity

The Guardian is reporting that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a new video to deny claims that the insurgent group has been crushed and flushed out of its Sambisa forest stronghold.

The Boko Haram leader, who was flanked in his usual style by armed fighters, denied defeat of the insurgent group.

Shekau denies fall of Sambisa
Shekau says in a new video that reports of Sambisa's fall were totally untrue.
“We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree,” The Guardian quoted Shekau as saying in the video which is said to last 25 minutes.

“You should not be telling lies to the people,” he added before querying “If you indeed crushed us, how can you see me like this? How many times have you killed us in your bogus death?”