Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau delivering a speech at an undisclosed location in a video obtained by AFP on Aug. 24, 2014.
Terror group ISIS, which is active in Iraq and Syria, is reportedly
strengthening its ties with Boko Haram in Nigeria, offering the
militants advice on how to build an African caliphate.
"Unless swift action is taken, Nigeria could be facing a rapid takeover
of a large area of its territory reminiscent of ISIS's lightning
advances in Iraq," The Nigeria Security Network warned.
The Independent noted
that intelligence agencies have been raising concern that what
initially looked like symbolic links between ISIS and Boko Haram have
now developed "into a practical relationship" with the former offering
advice on strategy and tactics.
The U.S. and most western powers have focused their attention on
ISIS, launching air strikes and supplying the Iraqi and Kurdish
regional governments with arms, but some organizations have warned that
Boko Haram is fast establishing a reign of terror that more than equals
the Islamic State.
"As the US President Barack Obama is
articulating a strategy to degrade and destroy ISIS, we urge him not to
forget Boko Haram as well. Every moment we leave Boko Haram alone
empowers the terrorists to become even more devious and devilish,"
Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans Executive Director Pastor
Laolu Akande said in a statement on Tuesday.
Christian leaders have said that tens of thousands of
Christians and Muslims are fleeing the northern parts of Nigeria where
Boko Haram have captured several towns, including Michika earlier this
week.
"Boko Haram is determined to eliminate every sign of
Christian presence and many churches have been destroyed or torched.
Last week in a village in the area of Maiduguri, Boko Haram took over
the parish for its local headquarters," said Fr. Patrick Tor Alumuku,
social communications officer in the archdiocese of Abuja.
While
the Nigerian terror group has been attacking government buildings,
bombing churches and shooting congregations since 2009, only in the past
few months has it began capturing entire towns and setting up bases to
control territory – a move that also parallels ISIS' current strategy in
Iraq and Syria.
"At the moment we're only seeing crude forms of
governance – the implementation of sharia law and setting up of check
points," said Andrew Noakes, NSN coordinator.
"They're not reported to be setting up government departments or
running services. It's unclear whether they have the ability – or desire
– to actually govern."
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau declared
the establishment of a "Islamic Caliphate" in the predominantly
Christian town of Gwoza, which was captured in August.
"Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in (the town of) Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate," Shekau says in a 52-minute video, which also showed the execution of civilians.
Both
the Nigerian and Cameroonian armies have fought back against Boko Haram
and reportedly killed hundreds of Islamic militants in recent battles,
but the true extent of the terror group's numbers and resources remains
unclear.
Alhaji Baba Ahmad Jidda, secretary to the Borno state
government, said: "At this very moment, most parts of Borno state are
being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents. Government presence and
administration is minimal or non-existent across many parts of the
state, with economic, commercial and social services totally subdued.
Schools and clinics remain closed. Most settlements in the affected
areas in the state have either been deserted or access to them is
practically impossible."
Akande added that while addressing the
threat from ISIS is important, he urged the international community not
to take away its focus from what he called the Nigerian version of the
Islamic State.
"Let the world pay attention to the other caliphate," he said.
Source: The Christian Post
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