Shekau reportedly ill, reveals why Boko Haram is losing grounds against Nigerian govt [VIDEO]

Boko Haram's factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, has re-emerged in a
new video after a long absence that fuelled speculation about his
health and ability to lead the Islamist militants.

In a 36-minute message, released to the media through Ahmad Salkida,
the Nigerian journalist with very deep knowledge of Boko Haram's
workings, Shekau looked unwell but made no reference to his health
condition.

He, however, urged his fighters to adhere strictly to the tenets of
Islam if they wish to be victorious over the "infidels".

He stated that he decided to appear in the video after numerous
requests by his followers to do so.

Shekau delivered a long, incoherent speech about the group's doctrine
of who is a believer and who's not, adding that the loss of ground
being witnessed by his group was a consequence of the failure of
members to adhere to the teachings of Islam.

He said: "Anything that befalls a Muslim, it is Muslims that caused
it. There is no way infidels will triumph over the faithful except if
they have strayed in the faith.

"Dear brethren, you should recognise that this war we are waging is
not new; this is a war that has been raging for a long time.
Therefore, anybody that fights because of Allah alone will never
witness defeat."

He prayed to Allah to free their Muslim brothers in various prisons,
asking: "How can we go to sleep, eat and drink if our Muslim brothers
are being humiliated in prisons like Guantanamo, Nigeria, Afghanistan,
Somali, Iraq, Sham and Yemen among other places?"

DAILY POST reports that the jihadist leader used to appear frequently
on camera but was last seen in a 14-minute video message on February
6, in which he claimed responsibility for attacks in the northeast
region.

In May 2017, Shekau looked frail and appeared to have difficulty
reading from a prepared speech, which he held close to his face in an
apparent indication of vision problems.

See video below: