TheCable

Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader – reported to have been killed by the Nigerian military at least twice – has threatened to kill Danladi Ahmadu who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the group during the phantom ceasefire deal.

In a new video released on Sunday, Shekau expressed support for extremist groups across the world.

“To everyone living in Islamic Caliphate, we convey our greetings, especially brethren in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Shishan (an Islamist term for Chechnya), Yemen, Somalia and the Caliphate in Iraq and Syria,” he said in the 44-minute footage obtained by AFP.

A graphic shown later includes a picture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of IS,  as well as a portion of the message IS issued on July 1 when it proclaimed a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

The video further shows armed men lined along a well-paved road, with three pick-up trucks equipped with heavy weapons and black crested flags of the group at the background.

Surrounded by militants, Shekau  paraded a town confidently. He was also shown preaching to people in an unknown community.

The sermon from Shekau was delivered indoors and also played on a speaker located in a place where people assembled.

Like he did in a video released last week, Shekau dismissed government’s claim that there was a ceasefire.

In the latest video, he seemed to associate territory under his control with a wider, global caliphate, but he did not submit to the authority of any other jihadi leader.

“We have indeed established an Islamic caliphate,” he said.

Since 2009 when Mohammed Yussuf, its leader was killed under controversial circumstances, Boko Haram has wreaked untold havoc on different communities particularly in the northeast region.

Attempts by government to bring the sect under control have not yielded the desired result.