Leader
of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, said in a YouTube message today that the sect’s
spokesman, Abu Qaqa, is still alive. In a short video in Hausa language, Shekau
claimed that 10 wives of Boko Haram members are currently being detained by
Nigerian officials, an action he described as “demeaning,” and threatened a
round of reprisals on wives of government officials. In the video, the Boko
Haram leader also threatened violence by the group over a recent anti-Islam
video which denigrates Prophet Mohammed.