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The Military yesterday dismissed a new video released by militant Boko Haram sect, showing thousands of its members at three different locations during the Sallah celebration. Describing it as “cut and paste”, saying it is a complete sign of weakness and it poses no threat to Nigerians.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar said the video was the same the terrorist group used in 2014. He said:
“It was the same video they used in 2014; this time around, they removed Shekau from it. This is cut and paste of an old video to make it look like new. Anything is possible in technology.
“The only ground the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) can go into and hide and pretend to be alive is the social media because it is everybody’s home without tracing the source.
“I believe the issue of the group is near ending by the special grace of God, The video is a complete sign of weakness and poses no threat to us.
“The so-called video is an attempt by the remnants to remind us that there was once Boko Haram elements. Empty vessels make the loudest noise.”
The Defence spokesman also said that the issue of the threat to President Muhammadu Buhari from the video is “complete joke.”
Describing the video as “a total washout”, Abubakar reinforced the troops’ commitment to the eradication of the insurgency in the Northeast.
“Issue of threat to PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) is a complete joke and the dream of the century, therefore the entire clip is a washout. Everybody is appreciative of our feat against BHT, no doubt about it and they know too.
“We reiterate our total commitment and resilience in stamping them out, people shouldn’t be deceived by their use of photoshop,” the military spokesman said.
In the 12-minute, 58-second video, the sect vowed never to give up their struggle.
They said that no amount of threat from the President and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Tukur Buratai, could cow them.
In a remark after his sermon at the Eid, the Imam, identified as the assistant to the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said: “No retreat, no surrender by the grace of God! No retreat, no Surrender by the grace of God! No retreat, no surrender by the grace of God!”
