By OKOSUN DENNIS
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, on Tuesday, shocked the world as he declared publicly in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja that the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, purportedly killed by the military is alive.
He explained that it has been cumbersome arresting the notorious sect leader claiming that the terrorists usually wear masks to disguise their identities and distract attention.
Dan-Ali spoke after he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari of his ministry’s activities.
WhenNational Dailycontacted the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, about the minister’s claim, he denied that there was never a time the Nigerian Army told anybody that Abubakar Shekau was killed.
“I just cannot understand you. When did the Nigerian Army ever tell you that he (Abubakar Shekau) is dead? Brig Gen Usman replied National Daily through his Whatapps platform.
However, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent later,he said “There is a clear difference between me and them. I have been transparent with you since July 2016. The Chief of Army Staff, the President or the Minister of Defence has never mentioned that Shekau has been killed. Even when people resort to propaganda and deceit, we prefer to be transparent.
“How can you contravene the Minister of Defence statement with the army spokesperson? The minister was with us yesterday when he represented the President. You should understand the differences between the last administration and now. Nobody has said Shekau is dead.
“The last time I said something about Abubakar Shekau was when he was mortally wounded by the Air force on his shoulder and I told everybody about it. He could have died, I don’t know!
“I am not going to teach you your work. Before, they told you lies; now we have been open and transparent, Brig Gen Usman further explained.
National Daily recalled that when Col Sagir Musa was the spokesperson of the 7 Division, Maiduguri, sent out a press statement claiming that Shekau has been killed.
Also, the former Director, Defence Information, (DDI) Maj Gen Chris Olukolade, also sent out a press statement in 2015 with a picture of the dead body of Ababukar Shekau claiming he has been killed.
However, the Minister reiterated that anybody who has the opportunity of visiting Sambisa Forest would know that Boko Haram has been defeated against insinuations that they have not been defeated.
He pointed out that with the capture of Camp Zero that served as Boko Haram spiritual headquarters and communication base, would know that the Boko Haram have been dealt with.
“I believe it is just a matter of time. It took America about seven to ten years to get Osama Bin Laden. So, we will get Abubakar Shekau as soon as possible.
“The sect’s spiritual headquarters has been ransacked and vandalised. He (Shekau) is on the run. 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. The Army engineers will open up roads and we shall be patrolling and be ransacking that forest for the whereabouts of Shekau.”
However, when he was asked why the government claimed in the past that Shekau had been killed, Dan-Ali said, “These insurgents have a way of putting on mask. There could be so many but we are looking for the real one.
They have 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 although it could be difficult to achieve 100 percent, the government is working hard to ensure that there is peace in all parts of the country.
On the Internally Displaced Persons across the country, the minister said that the government was interested in seeing the IDPs returning to their homes so that economic activities can pick up in the deserted villages.