Leader of the Boko Haram sect, who was believed to be dead due to his non-appearance in the sect's recordings, has broken his five month silence, in an audio message posted on social media on Sunday debunking reports of his death.
Shekau described Chad's President, Idris Deby as a “hypocrite”, saying infidels were behind reports of his death.
“It is indeed all over the global media of infidels that I am dead or that I am sick,” he said. “It should be understood that this is false. This is indeed a lie. If it were true, my voice wouldn’t have been heard, now that I am speaking.
“I have not disappeared. I am still alive and I will not die until my time appointed by Allah is up.” Shekau added.
In the eight minute recording addressed to to the leader of the Islamic State (IS), Shekau said he was still in control of Boko Haram.
Chad's president, during a press conference to mark his country's 55th independence anniversary last week, said Shekau had been replaced with one Mahamat Daoud.
“There is someone apparently called Mahamat Daoud who is said to have replaced Abubakar Shekau and wants to negotiate with the Nigerian government,” he had said.
A Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who had been known to have access to top commanders of Boko Haram, has also dismissed Deby’s claims.
Salkida accused the Chadian leader of attempting to mislead the government of President Muhammadu Buhari the same way he did to Jonathan.
Recall that Shekau took control of the group after its founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody in July 2009.
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