Shekau: alive or dead?

Contrary to claims of Nigerian military authorities, a U.S military General said on Wednesday that Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the insurgent group Boko Haram is alive and is still exercising control over the terrorist group.

Lieut.-Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the nominee to lead U.S. military’s Africa Command, disclosed this in Washington during his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee however said  the terrorism group had been fractured internally over the terms of its association with Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State.

He said that the problem in the group resulted from some members splitting from shadowy leader, Aubakar Shekau, over his failure to adhere to guidance from the Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State.

Nigerian military authorities have claimed at least twice in the past three years that Shekau has been killed during encounter with troops in Borno State.

But the testimony by the US General suggests that the much dreaded Shekau is alive, a confirmation of the repeated counter claims by the terrorist group that the claims that its leader is dead is false.

Nigerian military authorities have suggested though that Abubakar is a alias or name usually bestowed on any member chosen to lead the group at any particular time.

Waldhauser further told the lawmakers that the internal division was illustrative of limits of Islamic State’s influence over Boko Haram so far, in spite of the West African group’s pledge of allegiance to it last year.

“Several months ago, about half of Boko Haram broke off to a separate group because they were not happy with the amount of buy-in, if you will, from Boko Haram into the ISIL brand,’’ he explained.

He, however, said that Shekau had not fallen into line with Islamic State’s instructions, including ignoring calls for Boko Haram to stop using children as suicide bombers.

“He’s been told by ISIL to stop doing that, but he has not done so, and that’s one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off.

“But, the Islamic State was trying to reconcile those two groups,’’ he said.

The military chief said that there was no evidence that Boko Haram had so far received significant operational support or financing from Islamic State.

He said that the assessment suggested that Boko Haram’s loyalty pledge had so far, mostly been a branding exercise.

Waldhauser acknowledged differing opinions about how much influence Islamic State actually had over Boko Haram, which won global infamy for its 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok school girls.

“They certainly have not given them a lot of financial assistance.

“So, the point could be that it is perhaps in improvement in tradecraft, in training and the like,” he said.

Waldauser stated that Shekau’s local focus and voiced concern was about whether a splinter group may act more in concert with Islamic State’s trans-regional ambitions.

“What concerns me is the break-off group of Boko Haram, which wants to be more ISIL-like, and consequently buy into the ISIL-brand of attacking western interests,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, an army officer in Niger said that a multinational force had begun operations against Boko Haram along the border between the country and Nigeria.

Brig.-Gen. Abdou Sidikou-Issa, the Tactical Chief of Staff for Troops, based in Niger’s southern zone of Diffa, on Wednesday in Niamey said that troops from Chad and Nigeria were involved in the operation. (Reuters/NAN)

A senior U.S. military general on Wednesday said the terrorism group in Nigerian, Boko Haram, had been fractured internally.

Lieut.-Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the nominee to lead U.S. military’s Africa Command, disclosed this in Washington during his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He said that the problem in the group resulted from some members splitting from shadowy leader, Aubakar Shekau, over his failure to adhere to guidance from the Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State.  Nigerian military authorities have claimed at least twice in the past three years that Shekau has been killed during encounter with troops in Borno State.

But the testimony by the US General suggests that the much dreaded Shekau is alive and still very active in the activities of the insurgent group.

It will also support the counter claims by the terrorist group that claims of the military regarding the death of Shekau is false.

Waldhauser further told the lawmakers that the internal division was illustrative of limits of Islamic State’s influence over Boko Haram so far, in spite of the West African group’s pledge of allegiance to it last year.

“Several months ago, about half of Boko Haram broke off to a separate group because they were not happy with the amount of buy-in, if you will, from Boko Haram into the ISIL brand,’’ he explained.

He, however, said that Shekau had not fallen into line with Islamic State’s instructions, including ignoring calls for Boko Haram to stop using children as suicide bombers.

“He’s been told by ISIL to stop doing that, but he has not done so, and that’s one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off.

“But, the Islamic State was trying to reconcile those two groups,’’ he said.

The military chief said that there was no evidence that Boko Haram had so far received significant operational support or financing from Islamic State.

He said that the assessment suggested that Boko Haram’s loyalty pledge had so far, mostly been a branding exercise.

Waldhauser acknowledged differing opinions about how much influence Islamic State actually had over Boko Haram, which won global infamy for its 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok school girls.

“They certainly have not given them a lot of financial assistance.

“So, the point could be that it is perhaps in improvement in tradecraft, in training and the like,” he said.

Waldauser stated that Shekau’s local focus and voiced concern was about whether a splinter group may act more in concert with Islamic State’s trans-regional ambitions.

“What concerns me is the break-off group of Boko Haram, which wants to be more ISIL-like, and consequently buy into the ISIL-brand of attacking western interests,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, an army officer in Niger said that a multinational force had begun operations against Boko Haram along the border between the country and Nigeria.

Brig.-Gen. Abdou Sidikou-Issa, the Tactical Chief of Staff for Troops, based in Niger’s southern zone of Diffa, on Wednesday in Niamey said that troops from Chad and Nigeria were involved in the operation. (Reuters/NAN)