Army Comments On Boko Haram Allegiance To ISIS, Urges Nigerians Not To Panic

The Nigerian military expressed confidence over defeating Boko Haram and commented on the sect’s allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).

The army believe that the move announced over the weekend by the insurgents’ leader (or his impostor), Abubakar Shekau, was the indication of the group’s weakness and imminent fall.

According to ThisDay, the Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman Kukasheka, made the claim March 8 as he spoke with BBC Hausa.

The official characterized Shekau as a “drowning man” and urged Nigerians not to indulge in panic over the so-called allegiance.

Kukasheka was quoted as saying:

“With or without the allegiance to ISIS, the days of Shekau have already been numbered, because all the insurgents’ training camps and hideouts in the affected northeastern territories have been destroyed and the terrorists routed from their camps and hideouts.

“Those who have escaped our cordon-and-search operations in the Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad Basin areas have been forced to flee and abandon their operational vehicles, arms and ammunition.

“Shekau’s public allegiance to ISIS clearly indicates that he may surrender or will be killed in the ongoing joint military operations of Nigeria and the three neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroun and Niger.”