I’m Okay, You are Mentally Sick --- Terrorist Shekau Mocks Nigerian Army

The last may not have been heard of the controversy surrounding the state of health of Boko Haram’s ‘leader’, Abubakar Shekau. The sect leader has denied earlier claims by the military, that he was “fatally wounded” in air strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). In a video released over the weekend, Shekau maintained that “I’m alright, healthy and in tranquility.”

But the Nigerian Army, in response to the latest video, described Shekau as “mentally sick and unstable”, even as it insisted that the over 200 abducted Chibok Schoolgirls, must be released unconditionally.

It will be recalled that Army had, sometime in August, announced that Shekau was “fatally wounded” in air strikes carried out on target-locations in the dreaded Sambisa forest. The Army had said, among others: “Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others.

While their leader, so called “Abubakar Shekau”, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded.” In an attempt to put a lie to the Army’s position, Shekau said: “I’m alright, healthy and in tranquility”, adding that, “Nothing will happen to me and I will not die until my time comes.” He described “as usual lies” the Army’s stand that he had been badly wounded . Shekau, who spoke for about forty minutes in the latest video, was flanked by armed fighters.

The controversial sect leader, who spoke in English, Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri languages, further reiterated the earlier position of one of his loyal commanders, that the over 200 Chibok Schoolgirls abducted on April 14, 2014, will only be freed upon the release of detained fighters. In a swift reaction to the latest video, however, the Army reaffirmed its readiness to defend the citizenry at all times.

In a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, the Army said the video showed that the controversial sect leader was “mentally sick and unstable”. The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a video clip released by the so-called Abubakar Shekau faction of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists group this morning.

“In it, the purported leader of the group in his usual insane manner made all sorts of assertions to the point of threatening various towns, groups and individuals. He also tried albeit failingly to deny the air raid by the Nigerian Air Force in which he was wounded.

“The video has shown beyond all reasonable doubt the earlier suspicion that the purported factional terrorists’ group leader is mentally sick and unstable. The ranting is also another sign that the end is near for him which is part of the signs of all wicked people.”