Ignore Shekau And Stay Alert – Army Warns

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, (THEWILL) – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue with its offensive action against insurgents in the North-East in spite of the purported surrender by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in an online video.

Although, the military is subjecting the purported new video from Shekau to forensic examinations in order to ascertain its authenticity, it has cautioned that Nigerians be alert.

According to a statement issued in Abuja, on Thursday, by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, the DHQ advised the public not to be carried away by the video clips but to be extra vigilant and security conscious at all times during the Easter celebrations and beyond.

“It has come to the notice of the Defence Headquarters about the online video clips purportedly released by the Boko Haram Terrorists Leader, Abubakar Shekau or his replica in Arabic and Hausa Languages showing remorse and asking for forgiveness,” the statement stated.

“The DHQ wishes to state emphatically that not minding the contents of the video clips, the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to fight in order to consolidate the successes recorded so far and assuring Nigerians that no inch of the Nigerian territory would be allowed to be bastardized by any force of darkness again.

“The DHQ is also reassuring the good citizens of our great country that all captives under the coffer of the Boko Haram Terrorists, would regain their freedom with the ongoing military's final offensive against the terrorists.

“While the Nigerian Military would not rest until all the remnants of the terrorist group are completely wiped out of our blessed land, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, wishes to commend all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their sacrifices, determination and courage to degrade the terrorists and task them to complete the good job they have started soonest in line with our rules of engagement.

“The said video clips should therefore be discountenanced as it could be another ploy or antics of the terrorists to keep our innocent citizen off their current security alertness to maximize casualties if attacked. The Nigerian Armed Forces are now determined more than ever before to end this ugly trend.

“Members of the public are also advised not to be carried away by the video clips, but to be extra vigilant and be security conscious at all times during Easter celebration and beyond. Public is also reminded to report any suspicious strange faces, movement and object to the nearest security agency so as to counter any unholy plans of the Godless terrorist group.”

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).

Story by David Oputah