BOKO HARAM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MASS KILLING IN PLATEAU STATE.

Members of boko haram sect

The fundamentalist Islamic sect, popularly known as Boko Haram, on Tuesday in a statement claimed responsibility for the mass killings in Plateau State at the weekend. More than 100 persons were reportedly killed in attacks on three communities in the Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state on Saturday and Sunday.

The sect “thanked God for the success of the attacks” and vowed that there was no going back on the jihad (Holy War) it had launched against Christians and the government. It also asked “Christians in Nigeria to accept Islam” as a condition for a ceasefire. It described as a “new lie” claims by the new National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, that he has an access for a dialogue with its leaders.

THE STATEMENT

Full (and unedited) text of the Boko Haram statement, issued by its famous spokesman, Abu Qaqa, and posted on SaharaReporters on Tuesday, reads, “The Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, is grateful to Almighty God and hereby makes it known to the world of our success and attack on Barkin Ladi and Riyom in Plateau State on Christians, security agencies and members of National Assembly.

“Like we said earlier, Christians in Nigeria should accept Islam, that is true religion, or they will never have peace. We do not regard them as trusted Christians as some illiterates are campaigning because it was Christians that first declared war on Muslims with the support of government.

“Like we said, we shall continue to look for government officials; they will not have the rest of mind. We will attack their homes and security agencies in the same way they are attacking us and destroying our houses that we have been renting. We will continue with what we did in Rijiyar Zaki in Kano State.

“To the general public, particularly those in Kano that are dragging their heads into this fight by supporting security agencies. Let them learn from what happened to people in Kurna quarters. From now on anyone found wanting should have himself to blame. We do not have any agenda than working to establish Islamic Kingdom like during the time of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) no matter what will happen to us.

“We heard the information going round that new National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has gotten means of reaching us for a dialogue, that is a new lie.”

FRESH ATTACKS

Meanwhile, fresh attacks were reported in two more villages in the Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas on Tuesday. The attackers set ablaze the houses of fleeing villagers at Shong and Tse in Barkin Ladi.

Though reports indicated that there were no lives lost in the Tuesday attacks, a member representing Riyom constituency in Plateau State House of Assembly,  Daniel Dem said that more than 140 corpses were still lying rottten at the scene of attacks in the villages because the villagers had no access to their homes to evacuate the bodies of their loved ones.

He said, “I can authoritatively confirm to you that as I am talking to you now, the same gunmen from top of the mountain have attacked two more villages. “The two villages, Tse and Shong, are in ruins with no house standing. The gunmen came in their usual style with sporadic shootings. The villagers were scared and they ran out of their houses, the gunmen set the houses ablaze and the incident had added to the numbers of displaced people in the area.”

Hmmmm! For how long do we continue to bear this unreasonable killings? May God help us!