Boko Haram parades child jihadists on Twitter

In a manner similar to the Islamic State (IS), Boko Haram has launched a new online campaign, taking to Twitter to display pictures of children carrying arms.

The  Twitter handle, Alurwa Alwuthqa, also announced the sect’s capture of Monguno.

In addition, the sect released a video; but unlike past footages where Abubakar Shekau spoke on behalf of the group, one Abu Musab Abul-Barnawi claimed to be the spokesman of the group.

In the new video, Abul-Barnawi, who spoke in Arabic during an interview inside a television studio, said the group decided to seize Baga for economic reasons.

The spokesman said the alliance of security forces of neighbouring African countries could not stop Boko Haram from achieving its aim, reiterating the group’s opposition to western education and any form of democracy.

“This city is located in the northeast of Nigeria, in the vicinity of Lake Chad. It is important from both the trade and military aspects for the Nigerian government,” he said.

“As for its military importance to the Nigerian government, it has an alliance with the countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. It is an alliance against our project to establish a State of Shariah, and it is an alliance to control Lake Chad, which is considered the most important economic resource in the region.

“The land is for Allah and he will bequeath it to whomever he wills from among his worshippers, and the good end is for the pious.

“Our call is not limited to prohibiting foreign schools and democracy. We carry out the support for the Sunnah and establish governance of Allah in the land. As for those accusing us of shedding Muslim blood, this is unreal and Allah bears witness to that. How can we fight them while we fight for their sake?”