President
Posted Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 8:55
am
A leader of the Nigeria's radical Islamic
sect Boko Haram has challenged the
president's vow to crush the group in an
audio message posted on the Internet.
The message posted on YouTube shows a
still image of Imam Abubakar Shekau
flanked by Kalashnikov rifles.
In the message, he says President
Goodluck Jonathan will learn he cannot
defeat Boko Haram, and he warned the
militant group will strike again.
Shekau said Boko Haram carried out
coordinated attacks in the northern city of
Kano on January 20, which killed at least
185 people. But he blamed security forces
for the civilian deaths in the attacks.
President Jonathan has been under
increasing pressure to bring an end to the
escalating attacks, most of which have
been carried out across the predominently
Muslim north. Christians dominate the
south.
Mr. Jonathan has declared a state of
emergency in parts of the north and this
week he pressured the police chief and
his deputies to retire.
Human Rights Watch this week blamed
Boko Haram for more than 900 deaths
since 2009.
Boko Haram has said it is fighting to
implement a strict interpretation of Sharia
law across Nigeria, Africa's most populous
country.
The ongoing violence has raised concerns
that Nigeria, which is also Africa's biggest
oil producer, is sliding toward civil war.
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