Nigerians, especially those residing in the Northeast zone of the country would give their last kobo to enjoy total respite from Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group, operating in the zone for more than ten years now. To worsen matters, the widely known Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has released a video message claiming a series of attacks in the zone during the festive season.
According to reports, the release of his first video message in months amid a surge in violence cast doubts on the federal government’s claim that the jihadist group has been defeated.
“We are in good health and nothing has happened to us,” Shekau said in the 31-minute video message in Hausa language common across northern Nigeria. Nigerian troops, police and those creating mischief against us can’t do anything against us, and you will gain nothing. We carried out the attacks in Maiduguri, in Gamboru, in Damboa. We carried out all these attacks, he said in the video.”
The video then shows footage from a Christmas Day attack on a military checkpoint in Molai village on the outskirts of the Northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, which the military said was thwarted by troops after one hour of battle. Boko Haram fighters in torn clothes were shown shooting from the back of battered pickup trucks.
Shekau’s message comes during an acceleration of Boko Haram attacks and just days after the jihadists killed 25 people outside Borno state capital, Maiduguri, the birthplace of the Islamist insurgency.
In December, Boko Haram attacked convoys of Nigerian soldiers and dispatched suicide bombers into crowded markets in towns across Northeast Nigeria.
The Nigerian military has always been quick to dispel this kind of Boko Haram hype but these days, many Nigerians no longer believe the government side completely.
