Shekau's Death not the end of terrorism

A security expert, Mr Mike Ejiofor, says the death of Mohammed Bashir, alias Abubakar Shekau and the subsequent surrender by some terrorists are indications that the war against insurgency is being won.

Ejiofor, the Chairman of Apex and Safety Consultants, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that the development would also demoralise Shekau’s followers.

He, however, cautioned that the death of Shekau should not be taken to mean the end of insurgency in the country.

“What I will say is that the war will be reduced to tolerable level because terrorism is not something you can wipe out one day.

“You know the insurgents operate in cells, they do not have a central command and control unit.

“So taking out the major leader of the bigger cell will only have some psychological effects on the smaller cells.

“But that does not mean that because Shekau is dead the war is over,’’ he said.

Ejiofor stressed that the death of the first Shekau, sometime in May 2013 did not end insurgency but it was intensified by the fake Shekau and his gang.

“Again, we are most likely to see another Shekau coming out to say yes, Shekau is not dead.

“Because if the terrorists come out openly to admit that their leader is dead, it is going to have psychological effect on them.’’

-Herald