"Insider" speaks: Abubakar Shekau, "alive and well"

As uncertainty continues to surround the purported killing of Boko Haram leader, Abubarkar Shekau, a Dubai-based Nigerian journalist, Ahmed Salkida, who is believed to have maintained communication with the insurgents’ group, has claimed that Abubakar Shekau, is alive and well.

Mr. Salkida in a tweet yesterday also denied media reports that the Nigerian government was negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April.

The reporter also rubbished reports that the International Red Cross (IRC) was working on a deal that would persuade Boko Haram to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in exchange for the sect’s detained men.

An intelligence source had yesterday revealed to Saharareporters that the person whose dead body is seen in photos circulating in news reports was not Shekau but one “Mohammed Bashir”.
The intelligence source however stated that the dead Islamist figure, who bore a striking semblance to Mr. Shekau, was indeed a look-alike who appeared in videos released by the Islamist sect.

Nigerian security officials have maintained for months that Mr. Shekau was dead, apparently killed by his own disaffected lieutenants in an internal rivalry for control of the terrorist organization.

Daily Independent however reports that “A confidential debriefing document by the Nigerian army obtained last week by SaharaReporters also acknowledged that Mr. Shekau stayed permanently in his holdout in Sambisa Forest and was not in the habit of venturing out to battles. Item “R” of the document stated, ”Shekau has his wife and 2 children in Sambisa Forest. He is Kanuri, he speaks Hausa and he does not travel.”

 This goes to strengthen doubts on whether the picture making the rounds was actually Shekau as that person was killed among the foot soldiers that met a gun battle with Nigerian Army in Konduga on their way to Maiduguri. Although, many still believe that it could still be Shekau as the terrorist boss had vowed to personally lead his men on their journey to capture the Borno state capital.