Nigerian Military Fails To Capture Shekau After 40-Day Ultimatum

The 40-day ultimatum handed Nigerian soldiers to capture Abubakar Shekau elapsed on August 30, with no sign that the elusive Boko-Haram leader is in custody.

The WHISTLER recalls that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on July 21, gave Nigerian troops the deadline to capture Shekau dead or alive.

But in what appears to be a failed venture by troops of the operation Lafiya Dole, Shekau, as at the time of filing this report, remains at large.

Meanwhile Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, who is the Theatre Commanderm of the Operation Lafiya Dole, has described expiration of the ultimatum as an objective that can be renewed.

“The 40-day ultimatum given to the theatre is concomitant task to the overall objectives for which the theatre stands to achieve. The theatre is here to deal a decisive blow to Boko Haram,” Attahiru said on Wednesday.

“That being the case, capturing Shekau is an enhancer to that objective. 40 days was a guideline.

“It does not mean that because 40 days is about to elapse and Shekau has not been captured, we’ll renew other 40 days, and we’ll go after him and get him,” he said.