The Defense headquarters has advised Boko Haram fighters to lay down their weapons because their leader Abubakar Shekau would be captured soon
- The DHQ also revealed that detained Boko Haram fighters are supplying important information that will lead to Shekau's capture
- The Army also confirmed the recovery of heavy weapons and IEDs from the insurgents in the battle of Rann in Borno state on Friday, December 30



Defense headquarters spokesperson Rabe Abubakar says Shekau’s video was a ruse and warned Boko Haram fighters that their leader would be captured soon.
The Defense Headquarters in Abuja has assured Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau that his days as a free man are numbered because he would be caught by the Nigerian Armed Forces soon.

The Punch reports that the Director of Defence Information Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar issued the statement in an interview on Friday, December 30 even as he revealed that Boko Haram members were already supplying the military with important information.

Abubakar advised Boko Haram members to surrender themselves and not allow Shekau to deceive them any longer because he would soon be picked up.
He said: “The Boko Haram insurgents are applying medicine after death. After all, we are aware that such video was done before we took over Sambisa Forest. Therefore, the release of the video is not surprising to us.
“The insurgents are defeated and those arrested are giving us the vital information that will aid our mop-up operations in the area.

We are going to convert the forest to a training camp soon. Shekau is a coward and we will trail him to anywhere he is hiding. He is definitely not in the Sambisa Forest of Borno State. We are calling on the remnants of the Boko Haram sect to surrender for their safety before it is late. They should not allow Shekau to deceive them as his days are numbered. The public should disregard all the antics of the terrorists.”
Meanwhile, The Punch has quoted a military source as saying that Nigerian Army troops have recovered several weapons from the dead insurgents in the battle of Rann in Borno state on Friday, December 30.
He said, “The gun battle lasted for about three hours. The terrorists actually planned to launch a surprise attack on the soldiers. Fortunately, the insurgents were the more hit.

Troops from the 3 and 112 task force battalions in Rann were the soldiers who repelled the attack. Weapons ranging from AK 47 rifles, magazines, FN rifles to Improvised Explosive Devices were recovered from the insurgents.”