Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has rejected the call for members of the sect to denounce violence, embrace peace and return to normal life.
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum had in a recent speech admonished members of Boko Haram to lay down their arms to enable the state to focus on development projects. He lamented that the continuous acts of violence by the sect was adversely affecting the growth and progress of the state.
Reacting to the Governor's call, Shekau was quoted as rejecting the plea in an audio recording, stressing that the group would become even more daring and violent in the coming days.
Boko Haram investigative journalist, Ahmad Salkida who claimed to have accessed the recording tweeted the following on Sunday;
@A_Salkida, the conflict and terrorism reporter wrote: “Shekau, in a recorded audio in Kanuri and Hausa declined the governor’s olive branch.
“In a calm tone, uncharacteristic of Shekau, he said the war was just starting. He vowed that his group was not ready to give up arms, chiding the governor for ‘misinterpreting’ a verse.
“According to Shekau: His members that want to leave, “know that is about Allah, it is not about any human being.”
“Informed analysts consider the exchange a good sign and have urged the governor not to relent in engaging the insurgents at all necessary levels.”
