Boko Haram says its leader Shekau is alive

Boko Haram said on Wednesday in a new video that its leader, Abubakar Shekau, was alive and that he was still leading the Islamist organization based in Nigeria.

"Our leader, Abubakar Shekau, is alive and remains our leader," says a gunman surrounded by dozens of activists in this 17-minute video in Arabic and Hausa languages, broadcast on social networks.

"We remain loyal to al-Baghdadi," added the man who had already appeared in videos of the group, referring to the leader of the organization Islamic state (IS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Abubakar Shekau has not been seen on video since February. Last month, in an audio recording, he denied the statements of the Nigerian army reports of military successes against his organization.

In March, he had proclaimed allegiance of the Boko Haram group to IS.

His absence fueled rumors about his possible disappearance or replacement at the head of Boko Haram. In this latest video, Boko Haram denies again of losing face on land to the Nigerian Army. "They lie when they say they have confiscated our weapons, driven us out of our territories, and we are in full disorganization," said the gunman.

"It is not true that 200 of our members surrendered. It is not true that our women and children were released and are back in school," he added. The army had announced last month the surrender of more than 200 Boko Haram fighters in the town of Banki in Borno State, and the release of nearly 250 women and children.

"In fact, the infidel forces now refer to propaganda because they have failed to submit in any way. We remain a force they must consider," further said the activist in the video.

Boko Haram, whose insurgency has killed at least 17,000 people and over 2.5 million displaced since 2009, is held responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,300 people since the inauguration of the new Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29. Buhari has made the fight against the Islamists a priority.