"Dead" Shekau Denies Ceasefire Deal, Says Chibok Girls Have Been Married Off

The supposedly killed leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, appeared in a new video released on Friday, dismissing claims of any ceasefire agreement with the federal government. Shekau also revealed in the video that the hopes of seeing the more than 200 girls abducted by the group almost 7 months ago should be jetissoned. Hopes rose on October 17 when Nigeria's military chiefs announced the suspension of operations against the terrorist organization, stating that a ceasefire had been agreed. As part of the deal, Nigerians believed the return of the girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State on April 14 was near.
The girls were however not released as expected and Boko Haram continued its onslaught against towns in Borno and Adamawa States. Explanations came in the new video released on Friday as Shekau denied any ceasefire arrangement with the government. Speaking in Hausa language, Shekau vowed that his group will continue to fight Nigerian armed forces. He also denied any links between his group and one Danladi Adamu, the man named by the government as Boko Haram’s representative at the talks. Shekau said the girls captured by the group have all been “married off”, and will not return to their families. “We don’t know that impostor called Danladi Adamu, we have never asked him or his like to speak on our behalf because in this war there is no going back. The issue of the girls is long forgotten because I have long married them off," Shekau stated.
The video was released hours after a blast killed more than 30 people in Gombe.
The group has also taken over Mubi in Adamawa State.