If i know where Shekau is, i won"t tell - Chadian President

The Chadian President, Idris Derby, Monday, made a volte-face as he said that he does not know the where about of  the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

President Derby had in a widely circulated claim said some months ago that he knew where the Boko Haram leader was hiding and had warned him to surrender or risk being killed by Chadian forces.

But speaking with state House correspondents after meeting with President Jonathan, President Derby said even if he knew where the terrorist was, he would not say where he is.

“I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding ‎and even if I knew, I won’t tell you” he said tersely in an answer to a question.

President Derby hinted that the inability of the Nigerian and Chadian army to carry out joint operations may have affected the success of the on-going operations in the North-East to tackle Boko Haram.

“It is regrettable that the two armies, that is the Nigerian army and the Chadian Army are working separately  in the field, they are not undertaking joint operation. If they were operating joint operation, probably they would have achieved more results” he said.

He said he was in the Presidential Villa to consult with President Jonathan on the

fight against terrorism and to congratulate him for setting a good record for Africa by conceding defeat in the just concluded election.

Meanwhile, the state house correspondent of German Radio who asked President Derby the whereabout of the terrorist leader has been said to have been denied entry into the villa.

After the Chadian President left, Musa was invited by security operatives and his tag was withdrawn for asking the African president the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.

Though Derby responded that he has no information concerning the South African mercenaries, but the journalist has found himself being questioned for what the Presidency termed as “embarrassing question”

 

Security operatives thereafter drove Musa in a vehicle out of the forecourt of the President’s office through the Service Chiefs’ Gate.

When he told the operatives that some of his work tools were still inside the Press Gallery where journalists operate from, the operatives led him to the hall to retrieve his belongings and led him out of the Villa again.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, was said to have assured a delegation of State House correspondents who met him on the matter that the issue would be resolved appropriately.

As of the time of filing this report, however, Musa’s accreditation had not yet been restored.

If i know where Shekau is, i won"t tell - Chadian President