Boko Haram’s leader rejects talks, threatens

Leader  of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau, has  rejected offers for a negotiated peace, instead promising to kidnap government officials’ family members and bomb schools, according to an Internet audio message allegedly posted by the group.

The 40-minute message also for the first time discusses Boko Haram’s goal: Complete adoption of Islam across Nigeria.  Shekau said he remains prepared to order more violence to accomplish that.
“If (Nigerian security forces) are going to places of worship and destroying them, like mosques and Quranic schools, you have primary schools as well, you have secondary schools and universities and we will start bombing them,” Shekau said. “Touch us and see. That is what we will do.”  He threatened  President Goolduck Jonathan and expressed doubt over the president’s  call for dialogue.

Speaking at times in Arabic, English and the Hausa language of Nigeria’s Muslim north, Shekau said negotiations suggested by President Goodluck Jonathan between the sect and the government will not happen. “He’s lying. He cannot do it,” Shekau said. “If Jonathan does not repent as a Muslim, even if I die myself, Jonathan’s going to see. He’s looking at me like I’m nobody, but he’ll see.”

Gunmen from the sect armed with explosives and assault rifles, some wearing army and police uniforms, others suicide car bombers, attacked police stations, immigration offices and the local headquarters of Nigeria’ secret police. However, Shekau denied killing civilians in the attack, claiming the sect’s gunmen tried to protect the more than 9 million people who live in the important city in Nigeria’s north.

“We’re killing police officers, we’re killing soldiers and other government people who are fighting Allah and Christians who are killing Muslims and talking badly about our Islamic religion,” Shekau said. “I am not against anyone, but if Allah asks me to kill someone, I will kill him and I will enjoy killing him like I am killing a chicken.”