Abubakar Shekau faction of Boko Haram terrorist group says the newly appointed service chiefs are weaklings.
The top terrorist gave the description yesterday while reacting to the recent replacement of service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Buhari had on Tuesday fired those he appointed in 2015 to lead the war against insecurity particularly in the North-East geo-political zone. The immediate past security chiefs were criticised by Nigerians who demanded their removal from office since 2017.
The new appointees are: Major-General Leo Irabor as new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and head of the military; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as new Chief of Army Staff (COAS); Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Air-Vice Marshal I.O. Amao is the new Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
Last year, the president expressed surprised at the continued existence of the terror group he had pledged to wipe out in no distant time. When he met with the new appointees yesterday he charged them to be game changers expected to outdo their predecessors having found it difficult to tackle worsening insecurity.
In an audio clip spanning over nine minutes, Mr Shekau described the new security chiefs as weaklings who cannot outperform their predecessors.
He specifically told the Chief of Defense Staff, Mr Irabor that he could nothing to him and his group.
“Leo Irabor, the head of the military, you should have sympathy for yourself, repent and convert to Islam. There is nothing you can do,” Shekau was quoted by HumAngle to have said.
He similarly urged Mr Attahiru not to hoodwink himself because he is a Muslim.
“Even if you are Muslim but you conduct polytheistic practices, you are no longer a Muslim,” the terrorist said.
The terror group is reportedly planning a major attack that will help to buttress their position on the new service chiefs.
