In its first reaction to Donald Trump’s election victory, dreaded Boko Haram sect in Nigeria, has warned the U.S President-elect against toying with the Islamists.
In an audio posted on Youtube on Sunday, the factional sect leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, told Trump that, “the war has just began” against the West.
According to Africa Review , the one hour message said the Islamists, including ISIS, could not be bothered by the likes of Trump.
“Do not be overwhelmed by people like Donald Trump and the global coalition fighting our brethren in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and everywhere,” Shekau said.
“We remain steadfast on our faith and we will not stop.
“To us, the war has just begun.”
Boko Haram insurgents unleashed mayhem in Northeast Nigeria in 2009 and no fewer than 20,000 people have been killed since then.
More than two million people have been displaced across the northeast and many others affected in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
The military under President Muhammadu Buhari had been able to retake the territories lost to the insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
Boko Haram, which last year pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has been in the grip of a power struggle since late last year.
The IS high command said in August that Shekau had been replaced as leader by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the 22-year-old son of Boko Haram’s founder Mohammed Yusuf.
Shekau claims he is still in charge, however, as rival factions vie for control.
The warning issued to Trump could be a morale booster to the insurgents who feat that the new president could be more brutal in dealing with ISIS and to an extension to Boko Haram.
