This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6202
December 28, 2013
December 27, 2013 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - As this news source reported on September 18 [see, Boko Haram Ambush Kills Over 40 Nigerian Soldiers ] the Nigerian military response to Boko Haram's atrocity laden jihad - primarily in Borno and Yobe States - has been so weak and ineffectual that the government has attempted to minimize the threat instead.
"...On September 13, Boko Haram, the Islamic terror organization, ambushed a brigade of Nigeria's Multi National Joint Task Force killing at least 40 with many still unaccounted for. "…At least 40 Nigerian soldiers were killed and 65 others went missing in a deadly ambush by suspected members of the extremist group, Boko Haram, in the sect's stronghold in Borno state…" [source, Premium Times] The Nigerian government is in complete denial regarding the danger posed by the group, refusing to officially even confirm or deny that the attack took place..."Nigeria's President, Jonathan has carried this charade so far that in August a spokesman for country's Joint Task Force [JTF] - Lt Col Sagir Musa - claimed that Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, had been killed in a June skirmish.
However, news of Shekau's demise seems to have been exaggerated however, with the terror leader recently surfacing in a video apparently quite alive and taking credit for last week's attack on Benisheikh in Borno State which killed over 100
"Leader of terrorist sect Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau again appeared in a video clip released by the sect,,,claiming responsibility for last week's attack in Benisheikh, Borno State, where about 160 people were maimed. 'They said I am dead, but here I am. The world should know that I am alive and will only die at the appointed time...'" [ Nigeria: Boko Haram Video - Shekau Reappears, Flays Obama, JTF, Others, AllAfrica.com]While taking verbal jabs at the Nigerian head of state, JTF spokesman Musa and President Obama [on previous occasions Shekau has threatened the U.S.] Shekau again made it clear that the basis for his actions are rooted in Islam's most sacred books.
"What I am doing is written in the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith and I will not stop. I challenge all the clerics of the world to question my deeds. Those underrating my capacity should have a re-think. I will never allow democracy to thrive. The concept of government of the people by the people for the people will never be possible and will never exist. Democracy shall be replaced only by the government of Allah, from Allah and for Allah."While the resources that Washington is making available to combat the Nigerian jihadists have been minimal, the State Department has finally agreed to declare Shekau's group a foreign terrorist organization:
"The Department of State has announced the designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. Boko Haram is a Nigeria-based militant group with links to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that is responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria over the last several years including targeted killings of civilians..." [source, Terrorist Designations of Boko Haram and Ansaru, U.S. Department of State]
Boko Haram's killing of civilians is a textbook case of "conversion by the sword" since Shekau's goal is to impose the Shari'a by force across all of Nigeria. An offshoot of the group, Ansaru - also a designated FTO, is operating out of Bauchi and Katsina States and is conducting a similar campaign of terror.
"...Ansaru splintered from Boko Haram in January of 2012. Since its inception, Ansaru has committed multiple attacks of violence against civilians and Nigerian government officials and is responsible for the deaths of countless civilians and Nigerian security personnel. Ansaru also has links to AQIM..." [source, November 13 State Department Briefing]
©2013 PipeLineNews.org LLC. All rights reserved.
http://www.pipebombnews.com/2013/dec/27/Boko-Haram-Leader-Shekau-Surfaces-Says-Nigerian-Jihad.html
This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6202