Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is still hiding in an enclave in Sambisa forest even as some killed impostors had disguised in his mask to deflect attention from him.
This is according to the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali, who told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday that previous “Shekaus” who had been reported killed wore replica Shekau masks to give the impression that the real Shekau was dead so that the military could soft pedal in his hunt.
He said that would not stop the military from fishing out the real Shekau who he said is still somewhere in Sambisa forest.
Shekau had been reportedly killed several times in the past with his corpse photographed at times but had often re-emerged through audio and video broadcasts.
“Let me tell you categorically, these insurgents, they have a way of putting masks. There could be so many but we are looking for the real one. He has been using mask to portray Shekau in one incidents or the other to give an impression that he has been killed so that we will relax. But we will not relax we are on him,” he said.
Dan Ali reaffirmed that the military has dominated the Sambisa forest and ransacked the spiritual home and command centre of the insurgents where he said the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers will soon open up roads for patrol.
He said: “I told you before now, the spiritual headquarters has been ransacked and vandalized. He (Shekau) is on the run. So, he may be hiding in one of the enclaves of Sambisa forest which we are dominating.”
“We have opened up the place. We are using the place as a training area whereby the Army Engineers will open roads. We shall be patrolling and be ransacking that forest for the whereabouts of Shekau.”
Assuring that Boko Haram has been defeated, he added: “If you have been opportune to go to Sambisa, you will know that Boko Haram has been defeated. Go and see what is happening in Sambisa.
“We have dominated the whole stronghold where they use to be. There is where we call Camp Zero where their spiritual and their strong headquarters that they were using as communication base was destroyed and as at the same time occupied by our men the armed forces.”
“I believe it’s just a matter of time. It took America about 7 to 10 years to get (Osama) Bin Laden. So, we will get Shekau as soon as possible.”
He said his meeting with the president dwelt on national security, saying that Buhari was impressed with the performance of the armed forces.
“Security situation is something that you cannot get 100 percent and remember that Nigeria has been having these turbulences for a very long time. We are trying to manage it and we are trying to make it solvable whereby every Nigeria will have peace and tranquility and do his normal business,” he stated.
Dan Ali said the president has directed the armed forces to do more to keep the country safer, noting: “We are doing our best and we have also requested for more in terms of equipment and I can categorically tell you that the Nigeria Armed forces have turned to professional armed forces.”
On the fate of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of the insurgency, the minister said it was also discussed in the meeting with the president and government wants them to be able to return to their homes to resume normal business.
“I have gone through the Sambisa forest. A lot of villages were empty and we are also thinking of facilitating process whereby all the strongholds, and some of them that have no strong issues with Boko Haram, will be released to go back to their farming villages and that will enhance the economic empowerment of the people,” he declared.
