The Nigerian Army has said that the 40-day ultimatum it was given to capture the leader of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau was only an objective that can always be renewed.

This disclosure was made on Wednesday by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru while briefing newsmen on the army’s ongoing war with the terrorist group.

Attahiru said: “The 40-day ultimatum given to the theatre is concomitant task to the overall objectives for which the theatre stands to achieve. The theatre is here to deal a decisive blow to Boko Haram. That being the case, capturing Shekau is an enhancer to that objective. Forty days was a guideline.”

He further stressed that the expiration of the ultimatum did not mean that Shekau who has eluded the nation’s military since Boko Haram’s bloody insurgency began in 2009, would not eventually be captured.

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai had on July 21, 2017 charged the Theatre which is saddled with the responsibility of curtailing the activities of Boko Haram in the north-eastern region, to capture and deliver Shekau dead or alive within 40 days.