Claiming to be doing the work of Islam’s prophet – which of course includes terrorizing children who are trying to get educated – the Islamist Boko Haram group is claiming responsibility for the seizure of more than 300 schoolchildren in Nigeria on Dec. 11.
“I am Abubakar Shekau and our brothers are behind the kidnapping in Katsina,” said the chief of the group that abducted of hundreds of schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014, in a spoken message.
At least 333 pupils remain missing after armed jihadis attacked the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in the town of Kankara, in Katsina state.
Shekau said militants targeted the school “to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his holy Prophet.”
That is – not permitted by armed jihadis.
The abductions were first blamed on local outlaws, but now Boko Haram — the name of which means “western education is sinful” — has emerged as the culprits.
The army said on Dec. 14 it had located the group’s hideout, and that military operations were under way.
“They are also not teaching what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded,” the terrorist chief said. “They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah the Lord of the skies and earths knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims.’
More than 100 gunmen wielding rifles and riding motorbikes stormed the rural school, and students fled and tried to hide in the surrounding forest. A number of boys managed to escape, but many were captured, divided into groups and taken away, residents said.
