Leader of the islamist Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, has broken his five months silence, in a new audio released by the group on Sunday.
Describing President Idris Deby of Chad as a “hypocrite”, the notorious militant said infidels were behind reports of his death.
Deby had said Shekau had been replaced with one Mahamat Daoud.
“It is indeed all over the global media of infidels that I am dead or that I am sick,” he said.
“It should be understood that this is false. This is indeed a lie. If it were true, my voice wouldn’t have been heard, now that I am speaking.
“I have not disappeared. I am still alive and I will not die until my time appointed by Allah is up.”
Also Ahmad Salkida, a Nigerian journalist known to have access to top commanders of the sect, had said the Boko Haram leader was still alive.
