Abubakar Shekau the leader of the extremist Boko Haram sect has in a new video threatened fresh but more vicious attacks on the Nigerian state even as he battles Abu Mussab Albarnawi, the son of his erstwhile leader, Muhammed Yusuf, to retain the leadership and control of the outlawed group.
In the new video, Shekau, who paraded a large number of his men and ammunitions, was quiet while one of his masked lieutenants read out a statement that reiterated their unflagging loyalty to him while denouncing ISIS’ choice of Albarnawi as its West African ‘Wali’ (leader).
The 24-minute video, which was partly in Arabic and ended largely in Hausa, had the group issuing direct threats to the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Butatai and the spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, whom they labeled as their avowed enemies and infidels.
The group expressed angst and displeasure with Albagdadhi-led ISIS for recognising Albarnawi as the new leader of Boko Haram in West Africa.
It however failed to withdraw its loyalty to Albagdadhi whom they repeatedly referred to as Khalifa (Supreme leader) – an indication that Boko Haram is still very much comfortable being under the stronger umbrella of ISIS.
In the concluding part of the video message that featured the group speaking from a thick forest that conforms with the Nigerian vegetation during the rainy season, the masked speaker threatened more vicious war against Nigeria and its West and Central African neighbours (Camerron, Chad and Niger, which he said would commence “very soon.”
The veiled speaker speaking on the front row of men that were all armed with lethal weapons like anti aircraft rifles and rocket launchers among others, threatened that they would very soon attack the Presidential palace and bring down the Nigerian flag.
The transcribed and translated video message
“This is a message from the group of Jamaatu Ahlil sunna liddawati wal jihad in West Africa of the Islamic caliphate to all the Jihadists of the world; especially to Abubakar Albagdadi.
“News has recently come to us through the media outlets, including those of the infidels. The news was that someone has been made leader or vicegerent of our movement in West Africa. But we are telling you that the appointed person has no qualifications to become our leader.
“We have listened and heard from them and their comment and how they tried to defame Ahlil Sunna wal jamaaa and we are further convinced that such a person cannot become our leader. And we cannot follow the one that is not of Ahlil Sunna wal jamaaa’.
“Besides, our leader, Abubakar Shekau, has sent you an 8-point message detailing why the person you appointed cannot lead because he is one of those that are called irjai. You (Albagdadhi) has sent a message back to our leader asking for the meaning of Irjai which he explained to you and you have failed to get back to us till date.
“Apart from that in the message we sent to you, you’ve not been able to address all the questions asked and the issues raised till date. For that reason, we are telling you that we are together with our leader, Abubakar Shekau.
“There are other issues that we want to raise but not on this platform.
“We have not reneged on our professed loyalty in the leadership of Albagdadi. We are still with him. But we will not entertain any middle man to come between us and the Khalifa Albagdadhi until we meet face to face with the Khalifa or get a video or audio message from him, then we will reveal to him core secrets about those they are building their trust on.
“We are also warning you the infidels of the West African countries that in no distant time, you are going to be visited with a calamity from us that will marvel you all for a long time to come. We will shock the world very soon. Watch out for us.
“Especially, the Cheif of Army staff, General Buratai and the army spokesman, Kukasheka; we are going to show you our strength in Nigeria. The world should know that we are no longer out to fight Nigeria but our battle is of the entire world. And the battle has just begun. It is going to be a fresh battle for you soldiers of Nigeria. Die you all in your rage.
“To you, President Buhari, very soon you will see us inside your home the presidential palace. You will hear from us right in there by the will of God. Abuja will hear from us very soon. We will demolish infidel and bring down the green white green and replace it with our flag.
“And under that flag, we shall worship Allah and we shall bring justice to all of you. Don’t think it is only this weapon that will aid us to destroy you but Allah will assist us to do this. Die you all in your rage. We are out to wage war on the world.”
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