Terrorist group, Boko Haram have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State according a message that was posted online via the Terrorist group’s Twitter account and a video that appeared on Sendvid.
The message which cannot be verified appeared to be by the group’s leader, Abu Bakr bin Mohammed Shekau, who addressed himself as the Imam of Jamaátu Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) and was addressed to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qurashi, the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
In the message, he said.
“From your brother in Allah, Abu Mohamed Abu Bakr bin Mohammed Shekau, the Imam of Jamaátu Ahlus Sunnah Lidda Awaati Wal Jihad to the Caliph of Muslims Abubakar Abu Bakr Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi.
We are sending you this message, following what Allah said in his Quran (And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves) and what the Prophet, Peace be upon him said (Whoever died and he had not Imam, died by death of ignorance).
In submission to the order of Allah “Azza wa Jal”, and submission to the order of the prophet, peace be upon him to not separate from each other and to stay united as Ummah as Jammaaáh, We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity, in hardship and ease, and to endure being discriminated against and not to dispute about rule with those in power, except in case of evident infidelity,” read an English-language translation of the video broadcast in Arabic.
Nigerian troops have routed terrorists from different towns and communities, including Bara, the Headquarter of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State in the last few weeks.
Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan said the tide has “definitely turned” against militant Islamists as Nigerian troops and their regional allies recapture territory.
President Idriss Deby of Chad, Wednesday, said he knew the whereabouts of Abubakar Shekau, and called on him to surrender or risk being killed.
Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in 2009.
It would be the latest in a series of groups to swear allegiance to ISIS.
Additonal reports via Vanguard