Abubakar Shekau, the mercurial leader of Nigeria’s Islamist group,
Boko Haram, today released a video in which he declares the areas under
his sect’s control a Caliphate and shows scenes of carnage carried out by
his fighters against unarmed civilians.
The video, which is the most gruesome since Boko Haram started the t
radition of periodic releases of videotaped messages, also shows Nigerian
soldiers fleeing from approaching insurgents.
Mr. Shekau, who has used such images to cultivate the image of a fierce,
reckless and merciless threat, appears to have tailored the current video to
draw maximum global attention to his group. His declaration of a Caliphate is
reminiscent of the style of the Sunni Islamic group, ISIS that has shot to the
frontline of sectarian terrorist groups after declaring its ambition to build an
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
reckless and merciless threat, appears to have tailored the current video to
draw maximum global attention to his group. His declaration of a Caliphate is
reminiscent of the style of the Sunni Islamic group, ISIS that has shot to the
frontline of sectarian terrorist groups after declaring its ambition to build an
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
In his just released video, obtained by Saharareporters, Mr. Shekau said
Boko Haram insurgents were grateful to “Allah who gave us victory to attack
Abuja and also the Yobe [State] town called Damaturu.” In his characteristic
rambling manner, Mr. Shekau added, “We still thank God for the successful
bombing of Damboa and other parts of Nigeria. We are grateful to Allah for
the big victory he granted our members in Gwoza and made the town part of
our Islamic Caliphate.”
Boko Haram insurgents were grateful to “Allah who gave us victory to attack
Abuja and also the Yobe [State] town called Damaturu.” In his characteristic
rambling manner, Mr. Shekau added, “We still thank God for the successful
bombing of Damboa and other parts of Nigeria. We are grateful to Allah for
the big victory he granted our members in Gwoza and made the town part of
our Islamic Caliphate.”
Even though Boko Haram has always stated its rejection of Western education
and values in Nigeria, the current video is the first time the group’s leader has
explicitly declared a Caliphate, a term implying that the areas under
Boko Haram’s control would be governed according to strict Islamic codes.
and values in Nigeria, the current video is the first time the group’s leader has
explicitly declared a Caliphate, a term implying that the areas under
Boko Haram’s control would be governed according to strict Islamic codes.
Mr. Shekau lashed out at Western nations for supporting Nigeria to fight his
insurgent fighters.
insurgent fighters.
“We are in an Islamic Caliphate. We have nothing to do with Nigeria.
We don't believe in this name," he said, vowing that his group would continue
attacks to achieve greater territorial control.
We don't believe in this name," he said, vowing that his group would continue
attacks to achieve greater territorial control.
Mr. Shekau stated that Boko Haram released the video in order to explain its
recent attacks, officially acknowledging that the Islamist insurgents carried out
recent attacks in Damboa, Gwoza and other communities in Borno and
Yobe States. In the video, he revealed that Boko Haram also executed some
of its members whom he described as infidels.
recent attacks, officially acknowledging that the Islamist insurgents carried out
recent attacks in Damboa, Gwoza and other communities in Borno and
Yobe States. In the video, he revealed that Boko Haram also executed some
of its members whom he described as infidels.
“Oh people, I'm making this speech because of the lies being spread always
by the government,” he stated. Mr. Shekau expressed his rage at youth
volunteers (popularly called civilian Joint Task Force) who repelled attacks
by Boko Haram and killed some insurgents. “Have you forgotten what you
did to our brethren? You were even asking 'are you Boko Haram, have you
ever carried a gun? This was how you killed our members,” said Mr. Shekau,
threatening to avenge the killings of his fighters.
by the government,” he stated. Mr. Shekau expressed his rage at youth
volunteers (popularly called civilian Joint Task Force) who repelled attacks
by Boko Haram and killed some insurgents. “Have you forgotten what you
did to our brethren? You were even asking 'are you Boko Haram, have you
ever carried a gun? This was how you killed our members,” said Mr. Shekau,
threatening to avenge the killings of his fighters.
Excerpts of the transcribed speech by Mr. Shekau are provided below:
"I chose to deliver this message in order to refute the lies being spread by
the government, about the operations we had in recent times.
the government, about the operations we had in recent times.
"We warn the vigilantes called civilian JTF to back off; if not, there will be
no place for them to hide. We have evidence of how you killed some of
our brethren whom you would ask if they were Boko Haram members
before you killed them. We know how you humiliated them by asking them
if they had ever carried guns or killed someone…We know everything
about the evil you committed against our brethren.
no place for them to hide. We have evidence of how you killed some of
our brethren whom you would ask if they were Boko Haram members
before you killed them. We know how you humiliated them by asking them
if they had ever carried guns or killed someone…We know everything
about the evil you committed against our brethren.
"We still have the magnanimity of asking you to repent because you will
never succeed in this way by the grace of Allah. And I swear by Allah that
we will never stop killing you, because Allah commanded us to kill people l
ike you. If we pity you and spare you, one day you will become infidels.
So, to us, having pity on you is an act of disbelief. You can continue to run
or hide your identities in women’s attire, but we will get to you and remove
the women’s clothing off of you. Then, while you are shouting for mercy,
we will strike, smash your heads and kill you all. Even if you don't do
anything to us we will kill you...We would do it even to avenge our brethren.
You killed our brethren in large numbers.
never succeed in this way by the grace of Allah. And I swear by Allah that
we will never stop killing you, because Allah commanded us to kill people l
ike you. If we pity you and spare you, one day you will become infidels.
So, to us, having pity on you is an act of disbelief. You can continue to run
or hide your identities in women’s attire, but we will get to you and remove
the women’s clothing off of you. Then, while you are shouting for mercy,
we will strike, smash your heads and kill you all. Even if you don't do
anything to us we will kill you...We would do it even to avenge our brethren.
You killed our brethren in large numbers.
"We don't joke with religion (quoting from the Koran).
There is no hypocrisy
in this religion. It is only the truth.
"We are not proud of our strength, nor with our weapons nor with anything we
have but we are only proud of victory from Allah the exalted.
Victory is only from God. Who is America in the sight of Allah?
Who is America in the sight of Allah? Who is Israel in the sight of Allah?
Who is France in the sight of Allah?”
have but we are only proud of victory from Allah the exalted.
Victory is only from God. Who is America in the sight of Allah?
Who is America in the sight of Allah? Who is Israel in the sight of Allah?
Who is France in the sight of Allah?”
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