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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday dismissed the declaration by Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, that Gwoza, a Borno town seized by the insurgents earlier this month, had been placed under an Islamic caliphate, stating that the move was “false” and “empty”.
In the 52-minute video obtained by AFP, Shekau said: “Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in (the town of) Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate.”
In the video, Shekau voiced support for the leader of the Islamic State militants Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who in late June declared himself “the caliph” and “leader of Muslims everywhere”.
But there was no indication from Shekau in the latest video that he was associating himself with Baghdadi, whose Sunni Muslim fighters have taken over parts of Iraq and Syria.
As such, it was not clear if Shekau was declaring himself to be a part of Baghdadi’s call or if he was referring to a separate Nigerian caliphate.
In the 19th century, a Sokoto caliphate was proclaimed across most of modern-day northern Nigeria and was considered separate from other Islamic kingdoms, such as the Ottoman Empire.
Shekau, who has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and sanctioned by the UN Security Council, was shown in the video wearing military fatigues, with a Kalashnikov rifle strapped to his body.
He alternated between Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in the region.
He was pictured standing in front of three SUVs and flanked by four fighters, who were masked and armed. It was not clear when or where the video was filmed.
There was no indication that Shekau was actually in Gwoza for the filming and his whereabouts remain unknown but another unidentified fighter who spoke later in the video vowed that Boko Haram would keep control of the area.
“By the grace of Allah we will not leave the town. We have come to stay,” said the militant wearing a green shirt and a white cap.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) earlier this month confirmed reports that Gwoza was under rebel control.
Boko Haram is also believed to be in control of other areas near Gwoza in southern Borno, as well as large swathes of territory in northern Borno and at least one town in neighbouring Yobe State.
Mapping the precise areas, which have fallen into Islamist hands, is nearly impossible.
There are few humanitarian workers on the ground in the North-east, where travel is dangerous and the region, which has been under a state of emergency since May of last year, has poor mobile phone coverage.
Experts have described Boko Haram’s gains in recent weeks as unprecedented, saying the group was closer than ever to achieving its goal of carving out a strict Islamic state across northern Nigeria.
But many analysts believe the military still has the capacity to reverse the insurgents’ advance.
A major offensive launched when emergency rule was declared in May last year appeared to put the militants on the defensive, flushing them out of their strongholds.
But critics say the military top brass failed to sustain the pressure and allowed the Islamists to retake some of the areas they had abandoned.
A lack of adequate weapons for troops sent to fight the well-armed rebels has hampered the counter-insurgency and some soldiers last week refused to be deployed to Gwoza without better gear in an apparent mutiny.
After Shekau's 25-minute speech, the video showed militant fighters on pick-up trucks firing rocket-propelled grenades and other heavily armed insurgents firing weapons as they walked calmly along the road.
The footage appears to show them taking over a military base, stealing weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as well as fuel cans.
In one frame, a fighter stands on top of a tank, waving the Islamists’ black flag.
The end of the video apparently depicts scenes of grisly executions, similar to those released by IS in recent weeks. Boko Haram has used similar tactics before, however.
In one scene, about 20 men in civilian clothing are shown with their hands tied behind their backs and lying by the roadside before they are shot at close range.
A second shows two men, whom Shekau said disguised themselves as women to escape the town, beaten to death with shovels. Two others similarly dressed are shot beside what appears to be a trench full of bodies.
However, the Nigerian military yesterday debunked the claim by Shekau that Gwoza had been placed under an Islamic caliphate.
DHQ, on its twitter handle @DefenceInfoNG, stated that the move, similar to the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (IS) was false, adding, “The claim is empty.”
It assured the public that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state was still intact, adding, “Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with the expression of delusion and crime.
“Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits is still ongoing.”
The military had recently recaptured Damboa, another town in Borno State, which was seized by the terrorists last month.
Also, in a statement last night, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Ibrahim, said he could not comment on the authenticity or otherwise of the video in question, saying, “I will leave that to security experts.”
In the statement, the governor also stated he could not disclose measures being adopted by security agencies on whatever development in Gwoza or any part of Borno State, but assured the people of his state and other members of the public that the state government was actively in touch and supporting the security agencies deployed to Borno in the counter-insurgency efforts.
“We are not just studying the situation with collaborative tact and urgency but indeed, appropriate measures are being taken by the right authorities.
“For now, I urge the good people of Borno State to remain calm and resolute in their support for security agencies, abiding fate and prayers. The security agencies, I am sure, are in position to analyse the content of the said new video, compare with the facts on ground in Gwoza and brief the Nigerian public as they deem professionally appropriate, bearing in mind the National interest and patriotism as well as the overall safety of citizens.”
He thanked the local and international media for their support for Borno people and its government since this insurgency crisis in 2009, and appealed that they should refrain from dramatising and sensationalising issues such as the one connected with Gwoza, “so that we all do not fall for the objective of insurgents, which is to at all times to claim victory over our sovereign state, our rights to existence, our freedom and our liberty”.
He noted that it is the goal of the terrorists to create panic that would make anyone who doesn't share their ideology feel unsafe and defeated.
Shettima further expressed optimism that victory will never go the way of the terrorists who “violently stand between fellow human beings and their divine rights to exist as God's creatures on earth”.
In a related development, the Police Force Headquarters confirmed at the weekend that following the deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram Islamists on the Mobile Police Training School, Gwoza, last week, 35 of its officers were still missing.
The police, however, stated that search and rescue efforts had led to the recovery of scores of policemen, adding that the Inspector General of Police (IG), Suleiman Abba, had ordered the tightening of security at police formations across the country to prevent future attacks.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu, added: “Following the attack launched by insurgents on the Gwoza training camp of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IG Suleiman Abba, has since ordered the tightening of security around all police facilities in the country in addition to efforts made to further protect the lives of all people in Nigeria and their properties.
“It will be recalled that a ferocious attack launched on the training camp by insurgents on 7th August, 2014 was repelled by the police.
On 20th August, 2014, the attackers launched a fresh offensive that lasted for several hours where the policemen on duty engaged them in a fierce battle.
“The search and rescue party launched immediately has located and brought to safety all police officers in the training college at the time of the attack.

“So far, 35 policemen who are still missing from the facility as a result of the latest attack are being looked for with very promising prospects of locating them.
“While enjoining all citizens to remain calm and join hands with the security forces in the collective fight against the insurgency, the IG restates his determination to work closely with other security agencies to stem the tide of terrorism in the country.”
Source: Thisday
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