Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram, has once again made a video reappearance in which he denounced statements made by the Cameroon government as “lies” and attacked President Biya. In the 27-minute video, Abubakar Shekau, flanked by two masked militants, brandished his sub-machine-gun said in Kanuri, Hausa and Arabic that he was in good health contrary to allegations that he has been wounded.

Shekau denied statements by the Cameroon government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma Bakary that 5,000 hostages held by his sect were released during a special operation of the Cameroon-Nigerian coalition between 26 February and 7 March.

“We fought along the Cameroonian border. You lied by asserting that you killed 60 of our fighters, that you arrested 20 of our men, that you released 5,000 people, “Shekau said. Addressing the Cameroonian chief executive,  Shekau  stated that, “Paul Biya, you cannot live on liee. Can’t you stop lying? Is it with this that you will convince the West, your leaders? It’s a shame, be careful, Paul Biya.” He promised further attacks along the Cameroon border.

Since May 2014, Cameroon and the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission have been confronting the Boko Haram terrorist group in a combine effort known as the Joint Multinational Force. On several occasions, the coalition has announced the military weakening of Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic State and is now called the Province of the Islamic State in West Africa.

By Chi Prudence Asong