Boko Haram claims victories over Nigeria military

Shekau

 (AFP)

The leader of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram claims in a video obtained by AFP on Tuesday that Nigerian soldiers have retreated during an ongoing military offensive and insurgents have sustained little damage. The video marks the first public comments from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau since the start of a sweeping offensive by the Nigerian army on May 15 and also includes a call for foreign Islamists to join the fight in Nigeria.

Shekau’s whereabouts cannot be determined in the video, in which he is shown seated while dressed in camouflage with a turban, an AK-47 at his side.

His comments contradict statements from the military, which has claimed major successes during the offensive, including the destruction of Boko Haram camps and dozens of arrests.

It has been impossible to verify the claims of either side independently, with the military having cut mobile phone service in much of the country’s northeast and access to remote locations restricted.

“Since we started this ongoing war which they call state of emergency … in some instances soldiers who faced us turned and ran,” Shekau said in the hour-long video.

He claimed Nigerian forces “threw down their arms in flight.”

He called on like-minded Islamists in countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

“We call to us our brethren in these countries I mentioned. Oh! Our brethren, come to us,” he said in the video, which alternates between Arabic and the Hausa language spoken across northern Nigeria.

The video later purports to show vehicles and weapons seized from Nigerian soldiers.

Shekau, designated a global terrorist by the United States last year, repeats earlier statements that Boko Haram “will not stop the kidnap of your women and children until you set free our women and children, and our brethren.”

He also says Boko Haram’s goal is either the creation of an Islamic state or “martyrdom”.

The video was delivered to AFP though an intermediary in a manner similar to previous Boko Haram messages. The images of Shekau in the video are consistent with those previously released.

Nigeria launched the offensive against Boko Haram after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states in the country’s northeast, the Islamist insurgents’ stronghold.

Several thousand troops were deployed and fighter jets hit alleged Boko Haram camps.

On May 20, the military said it had re-established control in five remote areas of the northeast where Islamist insurgents had seized territory.

It had also claimed the arrests of 120 suspected insurgents.

The military’s latest statement says 25 insurgents were arrested and three killed during operations at the weekend, including one identified as “Abba” included on a most-wanted list. One soldier was also killed, it said.

“Troops of the special forces have intercepted messages sent to fleeing insurgents urging them not to give up but fight to the end,” the statement said.

“The attempt by some of them to heed the call was foiled during the weekend as they were trailed to some settlements and towns towards the border where they plan to regroup.”

Last week, the military also said it had freed three women and six children abducted by Boko Haram.

Nigeria’s government has also pledged to release certain suspects held in connection with the insurgency as a peace gesture, including all women and children.

Boko Haram has waged its insurgency since 2009, with an estimated 3,600 people left dead, including killings by the security forces.

The group has pushed for the creation of an Islamic state in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, though its demands have repeatedly shifted.

It is believed to include various factions with differing aims.

Nigeria’s military has come under heavy criticism over its response to Boko Haram, including allegations of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions.

Shekau's close associate found dead – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Tuesday said a terrorist believed to be a close associate of Boko Haram insurgents’ leader Abubakar Shekau, has been found dead this came as the Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the security situation in the country would continue to improve following the joint efforts by security agencies.

A statement issued in Abuja and signed by Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information, said the deceased was believed to have died while running errands for Shekau.
The statement, which was salient on the true identity of the dead terrorist, said two other terrorists, one of which was confirmed to be a Nigerien, are now in the custody of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

It said the three terrorists were in the process of crossing the border to neighbouring Niger Republic through the Lake Chad.
“They have been confirmed to have operated in Baga and participated in perpetrating arson and other atrocities around the vicinity of the town.

“They have been relocating from place to place since they left Baga last month,” it said.
The statement added that more troops of the Police Mobile Force have joined the operations as more towns are being secured in the operations to rid the nation’s territories of terrorist activities.
Olubolade assures Nigerians on security

Also the Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the security situation in the country would continue to improve following the joint efforts by security agencies.
Olubolade gave the assurance in a message to mark the 2nd anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and 14 years of unbroken democracy in the country.
He noted that the nation had passed through a very dark tunnel in the past few years as a result of the activities of undesirable elements.

Olubolade said such elements were bent on destroying the laudable dreams of the nation’s founders as they unleashed terror and other violent activities on the nation.
He urged Nigerians to “see the light at the end of the dark tunnel as exemplified in the continually improving security situation brought about by the joint efforts of the security agencies’’.
He assured that the Nigeria Police would continue to discharge its duties to the nation in spite of recent drawbacks, especially the recent loss of some officers on active service.
Olubolade said the loss was the price they had to pay in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for “his boldness and display of a high sense of responsibility and responsiveness in declaring a state of emergency in the volatile areas’’.
The minister called on Nigerians to give unqualified support to Jonathan in his determined effort to secure the nation and provide good leadership. (NAN)