Shekau Can No Longer Walk, Says Boko Haram Fighter

Mohammed Adam, a teenage Boko Haram fighter, captured by troops says Shekau has become Incapacitated after a relentless onslaught and air raid on the insurgents’ hideout in Tumbuktu, Sambisa forest.

Citynews Nigeria Reports that Adam, who’s currently in custody of troops of 195 battalion of the Nigerian army, said Shekau can no longer walk unaided, a situation that has restricted his role in the scheme of things to mere planning of the insurgents’ operations and not taking place in their execution.

Shekau is famous for taunting and taking swipe at the military in videos with claims of victories and undermining of troops with show of seized armoury, weapons and captured soldiers and civilian.

However, he has not been seen on his feet lately as he has released video where he was seen sitting or in some cases, using audio to pass across his message.

In a video, Adam said he joind the terrorist group when he was ten. He disclosed that he was forcefully taken away by Boko Haram fighter while working on a farm in Firgi, Gwoza local government area of Borno.

The teenage fighter, who spent five years in captivity, claimed he knows Shekau personally and participated in several operations under the command of the factional Boko Haram leader.

He also claimed to be among the Boko Haram fighters who escorted the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls to a camp in Tumbuktu.

In a bid to corroborate his claims of being a fighter, Adam displayed combat skills he acquired during training on weapons handling, marksmanship and improvised explosive device (IED) planting.

“I am a well-trained insurgents war front soldier who specialised in weapons handling including AK-47 riffles and GPMG as well as planting IED’s along troops patrol route,” he said in Hausa.

“We are also given training on other unconventional techniques to inflict heavy casualties on troops.”

Adam claimed he participated in several Boko Haram operations, including elimination of some army engineers in the south of Borno.

He said he had to flee from one of the camps in Sambisa forest due to hardship and hunger, resulting from cholera outbreak, which left over 500 militants and their families in critical condition.

“I escaped with the intention of being rescued by the troops of the Nigerian army which will in turn afford me the opportunity of fulfilling my dreams of going to school to acquire knowledge,” he said.

He said that other escapees, mostly minors, were in Banki in Bama local government area of the state.

The militant group has continued to recruit children who are trained to become field soldiers.