Abubakar Shekau yesterday released an audio stating that he remains the
leader of terrorist group, Boko Haram. He released the audio message
hours after BBC released a report that ISIS in the latest issue of their
magazine announced Abu Musab al-Barnawi as Boko Haram’s new leader.
Shekau in the audio accused al-Barnawi of trying to stage a coup against
him. In the 10 minutes audio, Shekau spoke in Hausa and Arabic. Below is excerpts of Shekau’s words in Hausa:
“All blessings be to Almighty Allah, and his His Prophet SAW. I am Imam
Abubakar Shekau. This is the message to the world, to those who can
understand Hausa and any other languages it can be translated for a
clear understanding of the message, which is why we are sending this
message to the world. The content of my message goes thus. We have heard
news going round and attributed to people we had earlier pledge
allegiance to. Even though we are not against them base on the message
we heard in the world radio but we are still onour ideology. We know
those we differ with, and I have written on this long ago. All we wrote
have been documented with me, some eight pages and some nine pages
stating their kind of ideology. Because I stated it clear that I am
against the principle where someone will dwell in the society with the
infidels without making public his opposition or anger against infidels
publicly as it is stated in the Quran. Anyone doing such can’t be a real
Muslim thick and thin. This is what our ideology proved. And that is
where I am, to them, a Muslim can dwell in the society and do his
marketing compromising core foundations. I want the world to know that
we are still holding our ideology and tied with the Quran, we will not
derail and will not revolt but will continue to remain in the cause of
Allah. Following Prophet SAW is compulsory for us, and we will follow it
to the end. This is our stand, and we are still in the cause of
Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da’awati wal-Jihad and Allah will help us. May
Allah strengthen us to remain in this cause. We are still members of
Jama’atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da’awati wal-Jihad, no matter what they call
us, we remain what we are. No matter what we have our basis in Quran. No
matter what they call us, what we aspire is to justify our ideology in
the Quran which is ultimate because we have not derailed. We are on and
in the future, we will not accept any emissary except the one we can
attest he is sincere and truthful for Allah and His cause. In the first
place, we sat and I was deceived, they said I should write my ideology
to be taken if there is a mistake they will point out and bring back.
They now deceive me, and it is base on some authorities and today I
found out that there is one who is following principles of infidel which
they want me to follow, and Prophet has stopped us against such. We are
still in the cause of Allah and will never depart in the struggle to
establish an Islamic caliphate and standing by Islam. We will continue
to work for the cause of Allah no going back. Anyone that caused this,
no problem, if it’s possible may Allah show him the correct path and if
it is not so may Allah protect us from his mischief.”