The deadline given to the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, to capture Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram terrorist group,dead or alive has been extended.The extension which was approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, after a request for extension by the Theatre Commander, at the expiration of the 40-day deadline. The approval however didn’t specify the period of extension.Shekau: Buratai extends capture deadline
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Friday that the commander requested for an extension of the order to capture Shekau, which was granted by Buratai.

He said, “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. T.Y. Buratai, has commended the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, his sector commanders and all troops of Operation Lafiya Dole for pursuing the COAS directive of capturing the purported Boko Haram terrorists’ leader, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive, within 40 days beginning on July 21, 2017, which elapsed on August 30, 2017.

“Although the leader has not been captured, the COAS noted with satisfaction the zeal and determination with which the directive was pursued. He congratulated the commander for eliminating five key leaders of the terrorist group that were the closest associates and right-hand men of the terrorist group leader.

Usman therefore urged citizens to go about their business and have confidence in the capacity of the troops to protect them, stating that with the killing of the 82 terrorists and the top five Boko Haram commanders, Shekau was no longer of any consequence.