Abubakar
Shekau is the leader of Boko Haram sect. He served as deputy leader to
the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, until Yusuf was killed in 2009.
Nigerian authorities believed that Shekau was killed in 2009 during
clashes between security forces and Boko Haram militants until July 2010
when he appeared in a video claiming leadership of the group.
In the video, Shekau indicated that he had been shot in the thigh but survived the fighting. In June 2012 the U.S. State Department designated Shekau as a terrorist and in effect froze any of his assets in America.
The United States Department of State offered a $7 million reward and the Nigeria government offered a N50 million reward for his capture, making him the most wanted man in Nigeria and Islamist in Africa.
Shekau survived an attempt on his life by Nigerian security forces. He has taken credit for the kidnapping of over 200 school girls in April 2014. Since his near death he has increased his violent attacks. Shekau was born in the Republic of Niger, although it has also been claimed that he was born in Shekau village in Yobe State of Nigeria.
It is unclear how old he is with speculation suggesting he is 34 or 35; some have said he is 43 years old. If so much information is available about Shekau, why has he become so elusive, almost mystical that our security agencies can’t nail him? Was he forged out of hell? Where are his parents, cousins, friends, brothers and sisters?
I can’t believe that he cut off all ties with family members because of his belief in this vague, nebulous, though horrifying war! That he had repeatedly exposed his face, is a slap and mockery of our security agencies. Perhaps our security agencies should now begin to have and build database for suspected criminals and indeed anyone that had had a reason to be arrested and taken into custody.
Such database usually goes a long way to help in profiling of a suspect and making arrest. They should also begin to think about scientific investigation. What they’ve been doing since Shekau and his cohorts’ unleashed hell on Nigerians, is mere guessing work and wastage of manpower and bullets!
And what the heck had happened to undercover detectives in Nigeria? Is the Boko Haram sect so difficult to infiltrate? Why are bugs not planted in the homes of some of the northern governors? Why are phones of governors who had been suspected not bugged?
I don’t see the killings, bombs and abductions ending too soon, for its clear that Boko Haram members or Shekau also thrive and enjoy attention, not just from the media, but also from the Nigerian government and international communities. This is why, whenever it appeared Nigerians are beginning to ignore them, they will look for something cruel, appalling, daring and sickening to commit: like the Nyanya twin explosions and kidnap of the Chibok girls. These daring tendencies however might soon become Shekau’s undoing. Sometimes, there’s just no perfect crime.
Frankly, security agencies in Nigeria are not doing enough. I don’t understand why international communities have not been invited to help sort out this saddening and tragic mess.
In the video, Shekau indicated that he had been shot in the thigh but survived the fighting. In June 2012 the U.S. State Department designated Shekau as a terrorist and in effect froze any of his assets in America.
The United States Department of State offered a $7 million reward and the Nigeria government offered a N50 million reward for his capture, making him the most wanted man in Nigeria and Islamist in Africa.
Shekau survived an attempt on his life by Nigerian security forces. He has taken credit for the kidnapping of over 200 school girls in April 2014. Since his near death he has increased his violent attacks. Shekau was born in the Republic of Niger, although it has also been claimed that he was born in Shekau village in Yobe State of Nigeria.
It is unclear how old he is with speculation suggesting he is 34 or 35; some have said he is 43 years old. If so much information is available about Shekau, why has he become so elusive, almost mystical that our security agencies can’t nail him? Was he forged out of hell? Where are his parents, cousins, friends, brothers and sisters?
I can’t believe that he cut off all ties with family members because of his belief in this vague, nebulous, though horrifying war! That he had repeatedly exposed his face, is a slap and mockery of our security agencies. Perhaps our security agencies should now begin to have and build database for suspected criminals and indeed anyone that had had a reason to be arrested and taken into custody.
Such database usually goes a long way to help in profiling of a suspect and making arrest. They should also begin to think about scientific investigation. What they’ve been doing since Shekau and his cohorts’ unleashed hell on Nigerians, is mere guessing work and wastage of manpower and bullets!
And what the heck had happened to undercover detectives in Nigeria? Is the Boko Haram sect so difficult to infiltrate? Why are bugs not planted in the homes of some of the northern governors? Why are phones of governors who had been suspected not bugged?
I don’t see the killings, bombs and abductions ending too soon, for its clear that Boko Haram members or Shekau also thrive and enjoy attention, not just from the media, but also from the Nigerian government and international communities. This is why, whenever it appeared Nigerians are beginning to ignore them, they will look for something cruel, appalling, daring and sickening to commit: like the Nyanya twin explosions and kidnap of the Chibok girls. These daring tendencies however might soon become Shekau’s undoing. Sometimes, there’s just no perfect crime.
Frankly, security agencies in Nigeria are not doing enough. I don’t understand why international communities have not been invited to help sort out this saddening and tragic mess.
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