Nigeria: Shekau Proclaims 'Islamic Caliphate'
http://allafrica.com/stories/201408251729.html
Photo: Indepth Nigeria
Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has issued a new video.
Leader of the Boko Haram sect Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a new video in which he declared Gwoza in Borno State as part of an Islamic caliphate, saying he has excised the town out of Nigeria.
Gwoza, headquarters of Gwoza Local Government Area, which is on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, has been under Boko Haram control since August 6.
The local government area covers 2,883 square kilometres and has a population of 276,312, according to the 2006 census.
The footage released yesterday shows the destroyed military base and other buildings in the town, located 135 kilometres south-east of Maiduguri.
The video, which was reviewed by Daily Trust, could not be independently verified but it resembles similar footages released by Shekau in the past.
"We don't believe in the name Nigeria. We are in Islamic caliphate. We have nothing to do with Nigeria," Shekau said in the 52-minute long footage.
"All gratitude goes to Allah who has given victory to our brethren in Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate.
"Our towns are ruled by the Book of Allah. Our towns follow the tradition of our Prophet Muhammad".
A caliphate is an Islamic state led by a supreme religious and political leader known as a caliph - i.e. successor - to the Prophet Muhammad.
Boko Haram has seized several towns and villages in Borno and Yobe states in the recent past, but this is the first time the group is announcing the creation of an independent state within the Nigerian territory.
Besides Gwoza, Shekau said they will annex more towns and villages.
He appeared in the clip wearing military fatigued, flanked by two armed, hooded men, in open vegetation. He had an AK47 rifle slung around his neck, and was holding a chewing stick in one hand and some papers in the other.
The Defence Headquarters yesterday dismissed Shekau's proclamation of an Islamic caliphate.
"The claim is empty. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact," the DHQ said in a post on Twitter.
"Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with the expression of delusion and crime.
"Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits is still ongoing."
In the footage, Shekau said he had conquered so many places and will not relent.
"I want to tell you (government) that you are late," he said.
"Allah has given us victory in a short span of time. You said you reclaimed Damboa, that you have tactics, bloody liar. You know the hardship you faced on the way. And you know there was not a single brother in Damboa. We did not stay in Damboa.
"We went and killed the people and our brethren went back to their base. You know the town we seized. You know the towns we are based in. If Allah decides to seize Damboa it will be like Gwoza."
Shekau chastised democracy, saying he will fight it to the end. He also criticised the United States and other Western powers for allegedly trying to stop the spread of Islam.
He warned youth vigilantes, also known as Civilian JTF, to stay clear of the confrontation between troops and his group.
"Vigilante, you should back out... You will never succeed in this way," he said.
The footage also shows about 20 men being executed. The young men were forced to lie down with their faces on the ground before a gunman shot all of them.
A man then said those executed were captured members of the Civilian JTF.
The video also shows some alleged youth vigilantes, dressed like women, who were captured while fleeing Gwoza. They were macheted to death.
Since the takeover of Gwoza by Boko Haram, thousands of residents have fled into Maiduguri, as well as to Gombe and Adamawa states.
Some of those in Maiduguri said the insurgents are already holding court at the Gwoza emir's palace.
Gwoza is a farming community and its people are also seen as successful businessmen because of the proximity of the town with Cameroon.
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