Photo : Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau Appears in New Video, Debunks Death Claims

Nigeria's military said last week that Shekau was dead and that a man who had been posing as the group's leader in the videos had been shot dead after fighting with troops in the far northeast. But in the 36 minute video obtained by AFP, Abubakar says he's very much alive and that the militants has implemented strict Islamic law in captured towns.

“Here I am, alive. I will only die the day Allah takes my breath,” Shekau said, adding that his group was “running our… Islamic caliphate” and administering sharia punishments."