IS SHEKAU DEAD OR ALIVE?

  Sometime last week, I brought out a chilled bottle of Champagne, reserved for very special occasions to celebrate the death of Boko Haram Spokesperson and the man who no doubt to me, is my most hated person on planet earth, Abubakar Shekau, who was alleged to have been killed by the Nigerian Military in their successful onslaught over Boko Haram in Kodunga, one of the towns in the north East hitherto in the hands of the Boko Haram. To further justify this claim, a picture of the alleged remains of the villain went viral over the newspapers and all other media outlets.

   In most of the pictures of the alleged deceased, a distinctive circle was drawn around a peculiar bump the said Shekau had on his forehead in comparison with his photograph of when he was alive. The information of the situation leading to his death was scanty and somewhat frivolous; to avoid saying that indeed it was unbelievable and suspicious. He was said to have been invited over by some captured Boko Haram fighters under the instructions of the Nigerian army, on the pretence that they (his men) had conquered the Nigerian army in Kodunga and on appearing, he was shot by the Nigerian army.

  A lot of skeptics argued then that such a highly ranked member of the sect, with so much privileged information at his domain was better to be captured alive to help avail our security services with many more useful information that could help them resolve this issue of Boko Haram. In the same public disparage of government that unfortunately appears to have become tradition within and outside our country, some people began to suspect a foul play in the presumed killing of Shekau, saying that he was instantly killed to stop him from implicating some influential persons in the country….. but for me, the mad dog was dead and that was what was important, so I popped my champagne with excitement, Even though that it was not the first time that the Nigeria military was certifying this villain dead.   

     

  Days later, a video of a hail and hearty Shekau has returned tormenting us on Youtube, denying any claim of his death and ranting as usual with more threats, saying that they were the ones who gunned down the missing Nigerian fighter Jet (NAF 466) and all that…..  

  The Nigerian military has immediately come out to refute this claim and also to reconfirm the death of Shekau, faulting the authenticity of the video which makes one begin to ask questions like, is Boko Haram shooting a pre-produced video in anticipation of government measures against them to boost their propaganda agenda? If Shekau is really dead why can´t the group acknowledge his death like all other terrorist groups does and possibly announce his successor? And on the part of the government, why would they claim they have killed a public enemy number 1 if they have not killed him? Really, it beats my sane understanding. The fact remains that one of the two groups involved in this melee, is not telling the whole truth. I want to believe that the lying group is Boko Haram.