Nigeria’s military on Friday offered millions of naira[ hundreds
of thousands of dollars] in rewards for information leading to the capture of
leaders of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.
of thousands of dollars] in rewards for information leading to the capture of
leaders of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.
A statement listed 19 alleged senior
members of the extremist group blamed for hundreds of deaths in connection with
its insurgency in northern and central Nigeria.
members of the extremist group blamed for hundreds of deaths in connection with
its insurgency in northern and central Nigeria.
The rewards ranged from 50 million
naira ($317,000, 245,000 euros) for the suspected leader of the group, Abubakar
Shekau, to 10 million naira for various Boko Haram “commanders”.
naira ($317,000, 245,000 euros) for the suspected leader of the group, Abubakar
Shekau, to 10 million naira for various Boko Haram “commanders”.
“They are wanted in connection with
terrorist activities particularly in the northeast zone of Nigeria that led to
the killings, bombings and assassination of some civilians, religious leaders,
traditional rulers, businessmen, politicians, civil servants and security
personnel amongst others,” a military statement said.
“They are also wanted for arson and
destruction of properties worth millions of naira.”
destruction of properties worth millions of naira.”
In June, the United States designated
three Nigerian Islamist extremists “global terrorists” but declined to label
Boko Haram a terrorist group, citing its domestic focus, among other issues.
three Nigerian Islamist extremists “global terrorists” but declined to label
Boko Haram a terrorist group, citing its domestic focus, among other issues.
The three named by the US State
Department were Shekau as well as Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi,
both said to have ties to a regional Al-Qaeda group.
Department were Shekau as well as Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi,
both said to have ties to a regional Al-Qaeda group.
Friday’s statement offering rewards
listed both Shekau and al-Barnawi, but not Kambar.
listed both Shekau and al-Barnawi, but not Kambar.
Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, who
issued the statement on behalf of a military task force operating in the
country’s northeast, did not respond to phone calls.
issued the statement on behalf of a military task force operating in the
country’s northeast, did not respond to phone calls.
The group has claimed to be seeking
an Islamist state in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil
producer whose population is roughly divided between Christians and Muslims.
an Islamist state in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil
producer whose population is roughly divided between Christians and Muslims.
However, its demands have repeatedly
shifted and it is believed to include various factions with differing aims, in
addition to imitators and criminal gangs that carry out violence while posing
as members of the group.
shifted and it is believed to include various factions with differing aims, in
addition to imitators and criminal gangs that carry out violence while posing
as members of the group.
