Nigeria terror leader Shekau reappears looking defeated: seems the end is near for Boko Haram

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau appeared on video for the first time in more than a year on Thursday, rejecting rumours about his death but appearing to signal his time in charge of the Nigerian jihadist group may be coming to an abrupt end.

In a message that contained none of the defiant bluster, taunts and denunciation of political leaders of previous videos and will likely be interpreted as an admission of defeat, the dejected-looking Shekau declared in the Hausa language: “For me the end has come”.

“This is a message of greeting and joy for you to see my face,” said Shekau, who in March 2015 had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in an audio message.

“This is my desire: that whoever sees this will hear nothing but greetings between me and you. Only Allah knows the rest, as you believed (and) as you submitted. For me the end has come.

“This is only the message I want to send to you for you to understand that this is certainly I. This is why I did this.

“May Allah protect us so that no hypocrite stands between us. May Allah protect us from the devil so that he doesn’t achieve his evil among us.

A military source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in northeast Nigeria, told AFP: “Watching Shekau in this video, the message is clear: the game is over.

“For this arrogant and boastful terrorist to speak in such a meek and subdued tone shows he has been trounced beyond his imagination.

“It is a farewell video.”

Unlike messages from the Islamists at the end of 2014 and start of 2015, which were slickly edited and closely resembled those of the Islamic State group, the new video was poorly shot.

It was also posted on YouTube rather than via Twitter accounts linked to IS supporters and websites used by fellow jihadists, which had become Boko Haram’s preferred medium of communication.

The bearded Shekau, who looked thin, spoke to his followers in front of a lime green background, with the Boko Haram black flag superimposed in crude graphics.

He also makes no mention of the Islamic State or Islamic State in West Africa province (ISWAP) and uses the group’s original name “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad” or “People committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad”.

There was no indication of when or where the video was shot and Nigeria’s military said it was trying to determine its authenticity.

“We are subjecting it to thorough forensic investigation,” they said in a statement.

Some analysts cast doubt on the authenticity of the video, pointing out that Shekau’s face is dark and questioning why the old Boko Haram insignia is being used instead of that of the Islamic State.

“If the message is legitimate it does raise some interesting questions,” Africa security specialist Ryan Cummings said.

“It could signal perhaps a change in leadership or even focus for Boko Haram.”

In a related development, the Nigerian military had yesterday said it would subject the Abubakar Shekau’s video to forensic test to determine its authenticity.

A top military officer, who declined to be named was quoted by PRNigeria as saying: “The ongoing campaign against insurgency and indeed Boko Haram is being intensified most especially in the Sambisa Forest, and its environs in order to further degrade and demystify the sect and bring them to their knees.

“We are aware of the video but we are subjecting it to thorough forensic investigation. We won’t take any action that can stop the ongoing offensives against the terrorists in all fronts. Every terrorist is free to surrender."

“While the military is conscious of sustaining the tempo on its war against terrorism, the military intelligence will subject the undated and unverified video to forensic analysis,” the officer said.