Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says the kidnappings are retaliation for Nigerian security forces routinely imprisoning the wives and children of his group’s members. The video shows 12 children, a mix of boys and girls, though it does not identify them or say where they came from.
“If they do not leave our wives and children, we will not leave,” Shekau says in the Hausa language of Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north.
Police and security forces have not announced any kidnapping cases involving Nigerians taken after Boko Haram attacks, though such abductions could be easily done in the chaos after an assault. Shekau quoted the Quran in the video and said anyone taken by the group could begin a new life as a “servant,” without going into detail.
Nigerian security forces often arrest children and wives to draw out criminal suspects in other matters, human rights activists say. Security forces also have been accused of abuses in their fight against Islamic extremists.
In the video, a Kalashnikov assault rifle sits over Shekau’s right shoulder as he speaks, the background covered with a rug. It’s unclear when the video was shot, though Shekau claims attacks Boko Haram launched on the towns of Bama and Baga in northeastern Nigeria in recent days.
In late April, at least 187 people were killed in fighting in Baga, a town in Borno state that sits along the banks of Lake Chad. Witnesses say soldiers angry about the death of a military officer set fire to homes there and killed civilians. Human Rights Watch recently said an analysis of satellite imagery before and after the attack led them to believe the violence destroyed some 2,275 buildings and severely damaged another 125.
Nigeria’s military has blamed the blazes on rocket-propelled grenades fired by extremist and denied killing civilians, despite growing criticism and evidence showing mass civilian casualties.
Boko Haram leader Shekau said in the video that his fighters only launched a “small” attack there at night and had nothing to do with the civilian killings.
“The next morning security forces, they entered there, they burned down house,” Shekau says. “They killed that they wanted to kill and in the end, they came and said it was Boko Haram. It’s a lie.” (ABC)
May God continue to keep us safe. Keep on praying for Nigeria.
Nigeria Governors Support Amnesty, Object To State of Emergency
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed
objection to the possible imposition of a state of emergency in some
parts of the country, describing requests for it as “being made by
people who do not wish our country well and who are bent on plunging
the country into a deeper crisis.”
The remarks are contained in a statement signed today by Rotimi C. Amaechi, the chairman of NGF and Governor of Rivers State, in which the group urged the federal government not to be distracted from the collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country once and for all.
The Forum condemned the spate of violence and killings in Borno, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa and some other States, and commiserated with their people and governments, as well as the security agencies and the families of the victims.
“While urging security agencies to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, we appeal to all aggrieved individuals and groups in Nigeria to appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any problem,” the governors said. “We have no other country to call home and it is important that we understand the danger and futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda.”
They expressed satisfaction that governments at the federal and state levels are “working hard” to get to the root of the killings and end the violence, and that the federal government has agreed to cooperate fully with the National Human Rights Commission in the investigation of the killings in Baga.
“We urge the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid to check violence,” NGF said, calling on the federal authorities to “remain focused and continue to provide leadership” until every part of Nigeria is rid of violence and insurgency.
Full text of the press statement:
PRESS RELEASE ON BORNO, NASARAWA AND BENUE KILLINGS
We in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) hereby condemn the recent violence and killings in some parts of our country –Borno, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa and some other states. We also commiserate with the people and government of those states, our security agencies and the families of the victims and pray God to give them and indeed every Nigerian the fortitude to bear the loss.
While urging security agencies to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, we appeal to all aggrieved individuals and groups in Nigeria to appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any problem. We have no other country to call home and it is important that we understand the danger and futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda.
It is gratifying that government – Federal and State – are working hard to get to the root of the killings and nip these orgy of violence in the bud. We are impressed by the magnanimity of the Federal Government, which has demonstrated an uncommon love for the country by setting up a Committee to explore the possibilities of granting amnesty to the members of the Boko Haram sect. It is also a good step that government has agreed to cooperate fully with the National Human Rights Commission in the investigation of the killings in Baga.
We also commend our security agencies for the selfless sacrifice they are making in the interest of us all to restore calm to all parts of our country.
We urge the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid to check violence. The Federal Government should remain focused and continue to provide leadership until every part of Nigeria is rid of violence and insurgency.
We also call on the Federal Government to ignore the ongoing agitation for a state of emergency in some parts of the country. These requests are being made by people who do not wish our country well and who are bent on plunging the country into a deeper crisis. The Federal Government should not allow itself to be distracted from our collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country once and for all.
Signed:
Rt. Honourable Rotimi C. Amaechi
Executive Governor of Rivers State
Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum
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