How JTF Reached Conclusion That Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Is Dead
Ibrahim Shekau
A Security Consultant, Captain Umar Ali (Rtd) has disclosed the timeline used by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in concluding that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is killed. He has revealed this information today at a Channels Television program. Confirming the possibility of the sect leader death, he still said that “there would be room of doubt” on the part of the people.
The JTF in Borno State, Operation Restore Order, reported yesterday Abubakar Shekau might have died as a result of injuries sustained during a recent military onslaught on his group, but this hypothesis is yet do be tested. The verification process is the possible explanation for the time lag before the information was released, Captain Ali said.
He further explained that information is passed through the 'intelligence cycle' before it is released. Besides, the JTF used ‘social indicators’ to confirm their speculations.
“After
the Sambisa attack, we saw a kind of withdrawal. We saw the terrorists’
attacks abating
greatly. There was virtually a lull before Kano came up. And added to that (based on information and follow up I’ve done) in camps that were raided, things were discovered that gave the impression that these people left here in a hurry. A lot of things were abandoned and they moved. Those they couldn’t go with, they burnt outrightly, themselves. So it’s possible that the leader was injured and they had to abandon ship. And they crossed over to Amitchide and tried to patch him up but he did not survive,” Captain explained the possible order of events.
Captain Ali also said the Borno mosque attack could have been retaliation for the loss.greatly. There was virtually a lull before Kano came up. And added to that (based on information and follow up I’ve done) in camps that were raided, things were discovered that gave the impression that these people left here in a hurry. A lot of things were abandoned and they moved. Those they couldn’t go with, they burnt outrightly, themselves. So it’s possible that the leader was injured and they had to abandon ship. And they crossed over to Amitchide and tried to patch him up but he did not survive,” Captain explained the possible order of events.
He then said that the current situation poses opportunities for all the 'stakeholders' - the Boko Haram sect, law enforcement agencies and the government, and urged the government and security agencies to move from dynamic and military counter-terrorism strategies towards anti-terrorism ‘more democratic’ in nature. This process would involve awareness raising, information and the option of ‘judicial trial’ for captured terrorists.
Mr. Sagir Musa, the JTF spokesman, yesterday, in August 19, stated that Shekau has possibly “died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on 30 June 2013”.
