Boko Haram leader, Shekau, Resurfaces In New Video, Threatens More Attacks

Nigeria’s army said Thursday it was trying to verify the authenticity of a video that appeared to show Boko Haram’s leader mocking reports that he may have been killed.

A security task force last month said wanted Islamist insurgent commander Abubakar Shekau “may have died” from a gunshot wound after a clash with soldiers on June 30.

In a video, a man resembling past images of Shekau taunted the regional military spokesman who suggested he had been killed.

“We cannot say at this juncture whether the claim is true or false until we authenticate the veracity of the video,” army spokesman Ibrahim Attahiru said.

“The army authorities have to verify the claim. This is precisely what we are doing,” he said.

Shekau said that President Goodluck Jonathan, United States President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth, French President Francois Hollande and Sagir should hang their heads in shame for lying to the world that he had been killed.

The Boko Haram chief said, " Sagir Musa should hang his head in shame, President Jonathan (of Nigeria) should hang his head in shame, President Obama should hang his head in shame, and President Francois Hollande should hang his head in shame, Queen Elizabeth (of England) should hang her head in shame."

"They said I am dead, but here I am. The world should know that I am alive and will only die at the appointed time. Everybody should be judged according to the dictates of his conscience."

"What I am doing is written in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith and I will not stop. I challenge all the clerics of the world to question my deeds. Those underrating my capacity should have a rethink. I will never allow democracy to thrive."

"The concept of government of the people by the people for the people will never be possible and will never exist. Democracy shall be replaced only by the government of Allah, from Allah and for Allah."

Insisting that the military will never subdue his group, he added,  "Nigerian soldiers are late. After killing many of them in Monguno and Benisheik, we have snatched their armoured carriers and a Hilux van and then hoisted Islamic flags on them. We now move freely with them."