BOKO HARAM SEEKS HELP FROM AFGHANISTAN, OTHERS; CLAIMS VICTORY OVER JTF

…as suspected terrorist found dead
Two weeks after troops were deployed to flush out terrorists from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states following declaration of state of emergency in the three states, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video published, Tuesday, called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

“We call on our brethren in these countries I mentioned. Oh! Our brethren, come to us,” he said in the video, which alternates between Arabic and Hausa language.

However, earlier this month, Afghan President, Hamid Karzai advised Boko Haram insurgents to sheathe their swords.

Karzai, during the presentation of letters of credence to him by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dauda Danladi, called on the Boko Haram members to lay down their arms if they are true Muslims and embrace amnesty offered by the Federal Government noting that no religion preaches violence.

“Boko Haram should stop burning schools, Mosques, Churches in the name of Islam. You should not destroy your country if you are true Muslims. You should protect lives because in Islam if you kill one, it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if you save life, it is as if you have saved the whole of humanity”.

Abubakar Shekau stated that his group has scored several victories against the Nigerian military in Borno State during an ongoing offensive, admitted, however, that his group sustained little damage.

According to him, “Since we started this ongoing war which they call state of emergency, in some instances soldiers who faced us turned and ran. Nigerian forces threw down their arms in flight” .

Suspected terrorist found dead
Meanwhile, a terrorist believed to be one of the close associates and confidant of Boko Haram insurgents’ leader, Abubakar Shekau has been found dead as he ran errand for the leadership.

Two other fellow terrorists one of whom was confirmed to be a Nigerien are now in the custody of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Defence spokesman, Brig. General Chris Olukolade said the three terrorists were in the process of crossing the border to neighbouring Niger Republic through the Lake Chad when they were arrested

According to Olukolade, the three have been confirmed to have operated in Baga and participated in perpetrating arson and other atrocities around the vicinity of the town and have been relocating from place to place since they left Baga last month.

“Meanwhile, more troops of the Police Mobile Force have joined the operations as more towns are being secured in the operations to rid the nation’s territories of terrorist activities,” the DDI said.

Source: Vanguard