Facts have emerged that Boko Haram insurgents have an arrangement of succession to leadership, using Shekau as recurring denominator.
An Islamic Scholar and leading member of Adamawa Peace Initiative, floated by American University of Nigeria, Imam Dauda Bello spoke to Greenbarge Reporters in Gazza, one of the towns in Adamawa state captured by Boko Haram but which has now fell back to Nigeria.
Imam Dauda who was one of the leaders that joined national and international journalists that were taken round the retaken towns today, said that it is possible that the original Shekau had been killed long ago.
Some of the town the team, made up of Deputy Editor of the Washingtom Post, Karen Attiah, online publishers, national and international media representatives as well as top management staff of American University of Nigeria as well as the Catholic Diocess of Yola, Most Rev. Stephen Mamza were Mubi, Bazza, Michika, Shuwa and others/
according to Imam Bello: “It is possible that more than three Shekaus have died in the series of battle with Nigerian soldiers, but when a Shekau dies, another Shekau would rise.”
The Scholar, who co-lead the Peace Initiative along with Bishop Mamza, said that each Shekau is usually trained on how to speak and act exactly like the other Shekau.
“The line of successive Shekaus are trained on how to dress alike, act alike and even speak alike. They are so perfect in it that if one dies, the next on the line would just slot in as if nothing has happened.”
Imam Dauda was sure that the first, even up to the third Shekaus have died, but that Boko Haram insurgents would not admit such fact as part of their war strategy to keep the fighting spirit alive.
The Scholar expressed confidence that with the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari and the renewed commitment of the Nigerian soldiers, Boko Haram can be brought to an end by December.
“As you can see, all the towns and villages which Boko Haam members siezed and occupied have been taken back by the soldiers and normal activities have returned to them.
“Boko Haram members have now been confined to one place (Sambisa forest) and is being surrounded by the soldiers. So, it is a matter of weeks before they are cleared.” [myad]
