The Nigeria military is subjecting a purported new video from leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau to forensic examinations in order to ascertain its authenticity.
The development is sequel to calls being made by Abubakar Shekau in the said video on his followers to embrace peace and stop the fighting by sheath their swords and surrender.
A top military officer who prefers anonymity however said: “the ongoing campaign against insurgency and indeed Boko Haram is being intensified most especially in the Sambisa forest, and its environs in order to further degrade and demystify the sect and bring them to their knees.
“We are aware of the video but we are subjecting it to thorough forensic investigation. We wont take any action that can stop the ongoing offensives against the terrorists in all fronts. Every terrorist is free to surrender.
“While the military is conscious of sustaining the tempo on its war against terrorism, the military intelligence will subject the undated and unverified video to forensic analyses.” The officer concluded.
Shekau was last heard from in March 2015, when an audio message attributed to him was released pledging Boko Haram’s allegiance to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), after which it rebranded itself as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Boko Haram leader also issued a threat to disrupt 2015’s general elections in Nigeria.
