Boko Haram reportedly on Monday released another video allegedly showing the abducted Chibok girls held in captivity by terrorists for more than 2 months.
Photo: Abubakar Shekau
According to The Paradigm, in the new video the group leader Abubakar Shekau speaking in Hausa also claimed responsibility for May 7 attack on Bama, which killed 55, and for April 16 raid on Baga town, which took at least 187 lives:
“We are the ones that carried out the Bama attack… We have abducted women and children in response to the arrest of our members’ wives and children.”
Daily Independent reports that the insurgents have rejected an amnesty offered by the government to end the violence.
Related: President Jonathan To Grant Amnesty To Boko Haram Insurgents
Although Shekau in the video didn’t mention the names of relatives seized by military, the insurgents have repeatedly accused Nigerian security of arresting their wives and children.
It would be recalled that the April 5-hour gunbattle in Baga town resulted in deaths of not only prisoners (105), but also scores of soldiers, police officers and 4 civilians. As the rights groups accused the security of retaliating with excessive force, killing many and destroying buildings in the area, the government denied the allegation.
Chibok Tragedy
More than 250 schools were kidnapped by Boko Haram in the night raid of April 14. In the previously released videos Shekau claimed responsibility for the abduction and showed the girls, saying they had been converted to Islam.
Related: New Boko Haram Video: “I Never Expected To Suffer Like This” – Chibok Girls Beg For Release
As the condition, he allegedly suggested to swap some of the girls for the sect prisoners. While the government’s first reaction was said to be rejection, it was further reported that the negotiations had started. However, later it was provided that the government had cancelled the “swap” deal shortly before it was to take place.