Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State
Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has
pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS),
according to an audio statement.
The message, which could not immediately be
verified, was posted on Boko Haram's Twitter
account and appeared to be by the group's
leader.
Boko Haram began a military campaign to
impose Islamic rule in northern Nigeria in
2009. The conflict has since spread to
neighbouring states.
It would be the latest in a series of groups to
swear allegiance to IS.
Boko Haram's insurgency has threatened
Nigeria's territorial integrity and triggered a
humanitarian crisis.
It has carried out frequent bombings that
have left thousands dead and has also
attacked targets in the capital, Abuja.
IS has forged links with other militant groups
across North Africa and the Arabian
Peninsula.
In November IS leader Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi
accepted pledges of allegiance from jihadists
in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Saudi
Arabia.
In January, militants in Afghanistan and
Pakistan announced that they were forming
an IS province.
