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Boko Haram leader declares Gwoza ‘Islamic Caliphate’ but DHQ says Boko Haram’s claim empty,


Shekau


Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau has declared the creation of an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza town in Borno state seized by the insurgents earlier this month.
“Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in (the town of) Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate,” Abubakar Shekau said in the 52-minute video obtained by AFP on Sunday
According to AFP Shekau declared that Gwoza now has “nothing to do with Nigeria”.
“By the grace of Allah we will not leave the town. We have come to stay,” said Shekau, who has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

Major Olukolade
Major Olukolade

The Defence Headquarters on Sunday  dismissed as empty, claims by the leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau that the sect had seized Gwoza from the Nigerian government.
In a statement forwarded to our Correspondent, Defence spokesman, Major Gen. Chris Olukolade insisted that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country remained intact.
The statement said: “The claim is empty. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact. Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with that expression of delusion and crime.
“Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits are still ongoing”

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