Abubakar Shekau is Alive and Well - Journalist Ahmad Salkida

Dubai-based Nigerian journalist Ahmed Salkida, who recently was flown to Nigeria to negotiate with Boko Haram, has denied claims that Abubakar Shekau is dead. 

 

 Two days ago, Cameroonian authorities had released a photo of a dead man they identified as Abubakar Shekau. Eventually the dead man was identified as one Bashir Mohammed, leader of the Islamist sect’s Uye camp. Nigerian security officials had also maintained for months that Mr. Shekau was dead, apparently killed by his own disaffected lieutenants in an internal rivalry for control of the terrorist organization. But according to Mr. Salkida who took to Twitter some hours ago to make the announcement, Abubakar Shekau is alive and well.

Mr. Salkida also dismissed media reports that the Nigerian government was negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. He also described as untrue reports that the International Red Cross (IRC) was working on a deal that would persuade Boko Haram to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in exchange for the release of detained Islamist insurgents in the custody of Nigerian security agencies. Tweets continue below.