Boko Haram claims responsibility for telecoms attacks, vows to destroy more schools - Premium Times

The extremist sect, Jama’atu ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, popularly called Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for attacking telecommunication base stations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano states saying it was its way of punishing them for alleged culpability in aiding security agencies to kill its members. “We are attacking GSM companiesbecause they have helped security agencies to arrest and killmany of our members, and we will continue with our attacks on them until they stop,” Mr. Abu Qaqa, spokesperson for the sect said Thursday evening in an emailsent to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr. Qaqa’s statement came just assecurity officials lambasted the sect, and faulted its logic that telecommunication companies had a hand in the killing of its members. “How can they tghey say telcom companies are aiding security forces to arrest their members when a lot of them are tired and disgruntled” said a JointTask Force official who argued that the difficulties the sect is currently facing has its root in internal rebellion and the counterresponse of victims. “Did they register their SIM cards as Boko Haram members?” the JTF official queried adding that security agencies have no need for telecommunication companies to arrest sect members. In its message, Boko Haram also expanded on its operational objectives beyond the establishment of an Islamic state, putting on notice those that try to prevent them as enemy that will be “fought with all we have”. Mr. Qaqa put the Hausa service of the Voice of America in this category accusing the international broadcaster for “fighting against Islamic religion”. For all journalists working with the broadcaster, the sect promised a reward of blood, adding “We advise any reporter or correspondent working with the station to resign, otherwise we will not hesitate any of them we come across anywhere.” Mr. Qaqa also said the sect will intensify attacks on primary schools as a result of the “attack on Islamic schools by security agencies” boasting that the recent resolve by governors and traditional rulers in the north to fight the sect “will come to nothing”.