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Boko Haram declares 'Islamic state' in northern Nigeria | Boko Haram declares 'Islamic state' in northern Nigeria |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Militant group Boko Haram has said it has set up an Islamic state in the towns and villages it has seized in north-eastern Nigeria. | Militant group Boko Haram has said it has set up an Islamic state in the towns and villages it has seized in north-eastern Nigeria. |
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was speaking in a video released to congratulate his fighters for seizing the town of Gwoza earlier this month. | Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was speaking in a video released to congratulate his fighters for seizing the town of Gwoza earlier this month. |
It is not clear if Mr Shekau has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria. | It is not clear if Mr Shekau has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria. |
Nigeria's army has rejected the claim as "empty". | Nigeria's army has rejected the claim as "empty". |
Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria, since 2009 when Boko Haram began its insurgency. | |
Gwoza, which had 265,000 residents in the last census, is the biggest town under Boko Haram control. | Gwoza, which had 265,000 residents in the last census, is the biggest town under Boko Haram control. |
It has raised its flags over the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, the town's traditional ruler, residents say. | It has raised its flags over the palace of the Emir of Gwoza, the town's traditional ruler, residents say. |
"Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic state," Mr Shekau said in the 52-minute video. | |
It controls several areas, mostly in Borno state where the group was launched, but also in neighbouring Yobe state. | |
The video also shows about 20 men in civilian clothes apparently being shot dead. | |
Nigeria's military spokesman Chris Olukolade responded with a statement dismissing the declaration. | |
"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact," he said. | |
Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau | Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau |
In his previous video, released in July, Mr Shekau congratulated the Islamic State (IS) for its advances in Iraq and Syria but did not say whether they were allies - there is no evidence that the two groups have been working together. | |
IS has seized much of northern Iraq in recent months, leading the US to launch air strikes. | |
Last week, the militants sparked global outrage by beheading US journalist James Foley. | |
Syria, Iraq and Islamic State | |
The rise of Islamic State | |
Analysis: Nature of IS threat | |
Gwoza is not far from Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in April. | Gwoza is not far from Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in April. |
Nigeria's police say it is still looking for 35 police officers who went missing after Boko Haram attacked a police academy in Liman Kara, near Gwoza last week. | Nigeria's police say it is still looking for 35 police officers who went missing after Boko Haram attacked a police academy in Liman Kara, near Gwoza last week. |
Residents say the militants seized the college but it is unclear who now controls it. | Residents say the militants seized the college but it is unclear who now controls it. |
Nigeria declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states in 2013 but the insurgency has continued and even intensified. | Nigeria declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states in 2013 but the insurgency has continued and even intensified. |
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