Leader of the Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau released a new audio message on Sunday, claiming he is alive and still in charge of the Nigerian jihadist group.
"Gratitude be to Allah and with his help, I have not disappeared. I am still alive and I am not dead. And I will not die until my time appointed by Allah is up," Shekau said in an eight minute-Hausa language message, according to Pulse Nigeria
Forthcoming: New audio message by #Shekau, leader #BokoHaram #ISIS West Africa Prov, 1st message since March pledge pic.twitter.com/Dmzqe5cGaS
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) August 16, 2015
"It is indeed all over the global media of infidels that I am dead or that I am sick and incapacitated and has lost influence in the affairs of religion. It should be understood that this is false. This is indeed a lie. If it were true, my voice wouldn't have been heard, now that I am speaking," he said, according to AFP.
Shekau's audio message came after Chadian President Idriss Deby recently claimed that the Boko Haram leader had been replaced.
"There is someone apparently called Mahamat Daoud who is said to have replaced Abubakar Shekau and wants to negotiate with the Nigerian government," Deby said recently, according to Daily Post Nigeria.
Idris Deby is wrong now as before when he deceived Fmr President Jonathan in phantom negotiation. Shekau is alive and leads ISWAP or BH. — Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) August 15, 2015
Shekau has also not appeared in Boko Haram propaganda videos since March, which triggered speculation that he might have been killed. A picture of Shekau's supposed corpse has also surfaced online, further fueling speculation about his death.
Shekau, who took over Boko Haram after the death of its founder Muhammad Yusuf in 2009, transformed the militant group into a more radical and brutal organization, according to Guardian Nigeria.
Listen to Abubakar Shekau's new audio message below:
