THE factional leader of the jihadist group Boko
Haram has reacted to the election of Donald Trump
to the White House with a warning that “the war has
just begun” against the West.
Haram has reacted to the election of Donald Trump
to the White House with a warning that “the war has
just begun” against the West.
“Do not be overwhelmed by people like Donald
Trump and the global coalition fighting our brethren
in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and everywhere,”
Abubakar Shekau said in an audio message posted
on YouTube late Sunday.
“We remain steadfast on our faith and we will not
stop,” he said in the hour-long message, adding
that; “To us, the war has just begun.”
Boko Haram is waging a seven-year-old uprising
against the Nigerian state that has claimed more
than 20,000 lives, with the insurgency spilling over
the West African nation’s borders into neighbouring
states.
Boko Haram, which last year pledged allegiance to
the Islamic State group, has been in the grip of a
power struggle since late last year.
The IS high command said in August that Shekau
had been replaced as leader by Abu Musab al-
Barnawi, the 22-year-old son of Boko Haram’s
founder Mohammed Yusuf.
Shekau claims he is still in charge, however, as rival
factions vie for control.
During a visit to Nigeria in August, US Secretary of
State John Kerry congratulated the government for
reclaiming swathes of territory and releasing
thousands of hostages from Boko Haram, while
warning against the use of excessive force to fight
extremists.
[AFP]
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