A message allegedly from the head of Nigeria’s Boko Haram terror group Saturday pledged his group’s allegiance to Islamic State.
The message was posted on Twitter, hours after Boko Haram claimed responsibility for four suicide bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria that killed at least 54 people and wounded more than 140 people.
The unverified pledge, first reported by the SITE intelligence group, comes as the Nigerian militants reportedly are massing in a northeastern town for a showdown with a multinational force that has dislodged them from a score of towns in recent weeks.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau makes the oath in Arabic in a tweeted message saying: “We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims.” Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has declared himself the caliph.
Boko Haram has increased suicide bombings and village attacks in recent weeks as forces from Nigeria and Chad have driven the insurgents from a score of towns along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
The insurgents also have attacked villages in Cameroon and Niger in response to Nigeria’s neighbors forming a multinational force to confront the spreading Islamic uprising.
Chad’s President Idris Deby this week said his forces know the whereabouts of Shekau and warned him to surrender or face death.
Boko Haram fighters are massing at their headquarters in the northeastern town of Gwoza, in apparent preparation for a showdown with multinational forces, according to witnesses who escaped from the town.
An intelligence officer said they were aware of the movement but that the military is acting cautiously as many civilians still are trapped in the town and Boko Haram is laying land mines around it.
Fox News, with contributions by Associated Press
