Saturday 1 November 2014

Boko Haram claims to have German hostage, denies ceasefire


The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has denied claims by the Nigerian government that it has agreed to a ceasefire.

It has also denied that it plans to release more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in the northeast of the country.

The denial is made in a new video which comes after a surprise Nigerian military and presidency announcement three weeks ago that a deal had been reached with the militants to end hostilities.

He claimed more than two hundred schoolgirls abducted from the remote northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok in April had converted to Islam and been married off.

"Don't you know the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls have converted to Islam? They have now memorised two chapters of the Koran," he said.

"We have married them off. They are in their marital homes," he added.

Shekau also said the group was holding a German national and denied they had agreed to a ceasefire, describing the Nigerian government statement as a lie. He also appeareed to rule out future talks.

Human Rights Watch said in a report that Boko Haram was holding upwards of 500 women and young girls and that forced marriage was commonplace in the militant camps.

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