DHQ reacts to video dismissing Shekau’s death

Abuja - The Defence Headquarters said on
Thursday it was studying the claims made in a
video purportedly released by terrorists showing
their leader, Abubakar Shekau as dismissing his
death.
A statement posted in the DHQ website said
that from immediate observation, the video did
not indicate when it was shot and any proof “of
life or currency such as screen time or date.”
“The video also did not make any reference to
anything that has happened since the
impostor’s reported death,” it said.
The statement noted that air plane mentioned
in the video had been missing before he
(Shekau) was killed.
“It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists
decide to manipulate pictures, clone another
Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video all in a
bid to prove invincible.”
“As far as we are concerned, the individual who
was appearing in video and claiming to be the
leader of the terrorist group was killed in the
Kondunga battle in September.”
“The resemblance of the corpse and that of the
eccentric character was incontrovertible. His
identity was equally corroborated by people
who knew him before we announced his death,”
it said.
The statement restated that justice would be
served to whoever bore that name or
designation and whoever engaged in any act of
terror.
It will be recalled that the DHQ confirmed the
death of Mohammed Bashir alias Abubakar
Shekau on September 24, saying he was killed
in an operation in Konduga.
Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director, Defence
Information, who confirmed it, had vowed that
the military would serve justice to whoever bore
that name or designation.