A certain Abu Musab Abul-Barnawi, who identified himself as the spokesman of the extremist Boko Haram sect, has stated in an unusual video clip shot in a TV studio that the reason Baga was seized by his group after repeated attacks was for strategic economic reasons.
The character in the TV studio, believed to be the official communication channel for the sect, disclosed that his group does not intend to surrender the seized Nigerians territories which they have made their “Islamic Caliphate”.
Abul-Barnawi, who wore a black canvass mask over his face as he faced an interviewer, whose face was equally masked, explained that his group only attack those that stand against the cause of his group as well as those that promote or ‘worship’ democracy and westernization.
He disclosed that the sect would very soon open up the seized communities and allow all those who approach them in repentance and ask for forgiveness to live their normal lives without any interference.
When the interviewer asked the spokesman to butress why Baga is strategic to Boko Haram activities, he explained: “First, 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. 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. As for us, its importance lies in removing this military gathering from the lands of the Islamic State, and thus, to establish the Shariah of Allah in this area, and provide security and safety for the Muslims in it.
“It is known that if these military gatherings enter an area they will corrupt it and oppression will prevail in it. By the grace of Allah alone, we were able to open this city and to include it with the cities of the Islamic State in Africa. 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. Allah knows better,” Abul-Barnawi said.
Accusing the media of distorting the name of his group, he said “Praise be to Allah, the media is changing much of the facts and spreading lies, especially the media outlets that are controlled by the tyrants, when the matter is related to the mujahedeen. It is the one that wages the distortion campaigns against the actions and words of the mujahedeen, and if there was no response to them, the truth would be confused with falsehood. Therefore, we say that we did not name ourselves ‘Boko Haram’.
“Our call is not limited to prohibiting foreign schools and democracy. We are Jama’at Ahl al-Sunnah Lil Dawa wal Jihad. Therefore, this name (Boko Haram) is an attempt to bury the truth. 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? When we entered the city there was the so-called carriers of the Catodqora stick, who cooperated with the soldiers of the tyrant and carried their weapons and stood by their side. So we fought who we fought. They know they fought us. When they saw our severity they escaped from the city and some of them rode into the sea and some of them went into the forest. However, we send this message to those who fought us or did not fight us: Whoever from among them comes to us in repentance, we accept their repentance and he shall have safety and security from us, because we are people”.
When asked how members of the public with no access to the internet will be assured of their safety when they ask for repentance from the group, Abul-Barnawi said “this could be achieved by many ways such as putting out leaflets and also posting them on the internet
“If some of them come in repentance, we send them back to his brothers to inform them and to come in repentance. The best proof for that is the cities we have entered such as Mubi, Damaturu, and Fika. In these cities we did not cause harm to anyone, because they did not fight us. We fought those who fought us. If they stop their assault on us we will stop our assault on them. If you are not with us, do not be against us. We want to take the worshipers out of worshiping worshipers to worshiping the Lord of the worshipers, and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam, and from the narrowness of this world to the vastness of this world and the hereafter.”
When asked whether the group would stop attacking innocent civilians in the course of raiding community, the spokesperson said: “Yes, this is for all the cities. For example, the people of Baga know they fought us and when we went to them they escaped and many from among the people of the cities did not fight us. Therefore, let them not escape from the city if we enter. For example, the people of Mubi and Damaturu welcomed our arrival and they invoked Allah in the streets. We see much of that. Therefore, we advised them to repent and to return safely to their homes and to stand with us to repel this crusader project which the crusader, deceitful Nigerian government imposed on the people, may Allah’s curse be upon it”.
Abul-Barnawi, in his final remarks, warned the allied forces of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and members of the Civilian JTF, to desist from attacking them or face more attacks.
“Otherwise, just as you fight us we will fight you. We will inflame against you a war of which you have not before tasted its bitterness.
“And finally, we say to whoever speaks about us in the media outlets and claims they are mujahideen and they speak in their name: Stop the evil of your tongues and do not say anything that is unclear to you. If they want to speak, then let them hear from us and not hear about us,” he said.