Islamic Council Challenges Boko Haram Leader, Shekau To Appear In Public

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has challenged Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau to appear in public if he is truly courageous.

The council, which gave the challenge on Monday during a press briefing in Kaduna, also described Shekau as a coward.

According to Secretary General of the council, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmed, if the Boko Haram leader is courageous enough, he should be bold to face security forces.

Baba Ahmed said: “Shekau should be bold enough to face security forces, if he is truly the courageous leader of Boko Haram he claims to be.”

Baba Ahmed noted that Shekau’s confession of the murder of Sheikh Jafar Adam, exposed his complete ignorance of Islam and its laws.

“Shekau gleeful confession to the brutal murder of late Sheik Ja’afar Adam revealed his clear ignorance of the teachings of Islam which he claims to champion.”

The council, therefore, issued what it called an intellectual challenge to Shekau on his group’s “crooked religious ideology.”

While appreciating the efforts of the federal government to tackle insecurity, the council, however said the current resurgence demands new strategies, alternative approaches and options in addressing the problems.

The Shari’ah council also said that the present service chiefs must be called to account over the resurgence of security threats including Boko Haram attacks and other threats across the country.

It noted that the video allegedly released by Shekau was a collective challenge to all well-meaning Nigerians desirous of peace and stability.

“The release of the video itself is a sad indication of the evident failure of strategies and efforts of government in tackling Boko Haram insurgency in particular and the myriads of equally horrendous security threats bedevilling the country.”

The council, therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to decisively crush Boko Haram insurgency and restore order in the country, in line with his campaign promises.