Boko Haram declares caliphate in Nigerian town
- 10 years ago
Heavily armed with tanks and machine guns, Boko Haram says it has created an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza, a town in northeastern Nigeria.
The announcement was delivered via a video message, by the Islamist group's leader, Abubakar Shekau.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hausa) BOKO HARAM LEADER, ABUBAKAR SHEKAU, SAYING:
"We didn't do it on our own, Allah used us to capture Gwoza, Allah is going to use Islam to rule Gwoza, Nigeria and the whole world."
Earlier this month, Boko Haram fighters stormed the town, spraying the streets with automatic gunfire and killing any who resisted.
The military has struggled to stamp out the Boko Haram fighters, who for five years have terrorised Nigeria in their effort to seize territory.
The insurgency has been in the international spotlight since Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in April.
The girls are still missing, and despite being regarded as Nigeria's greatest security threat, Boko Haram appear as stro
The announcement was delivered via a video message, by the Islamist group's leader, Abubakar Shekau.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hausa) BOKO HARAM LEADER, ABUBAKAR SHEKAU, SAYING:
"We didn't do it on our own, Allah used us to capture Gwoza, Allah is going to use Islam to rule Gwoza, Nigeria and the whole world."
Earlier this month, Boko Haram fighters stormed the town, spraying the streets with automatic gunfire and killing any who resisted.
The military has struggled to stamp out the Boko Haram fighters, who for five years have terrorised Nigeria in their effort to seize territory.
The insurgency has been in the international spotlight since Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls from a school in April.
The girls are still missing, and despite being regarded as Nigeria's greatest security threat, Boko Haram appear as stro