Boko Haram Has Pledged Allegiance To Isis In An Audio Message

The Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has pledged official allegiance to ISIS, according to an audio statement released online Saturday.

In the audio, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appears to be addressing ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, and also calls on Muslims throughout the world to declare a similar loyalty.

The message, posted via a Boko Haram Twitter account, was confirmed by Flashpoint Intelligence, a global security firm and NBC News consultant.

According to Flashpoint, the audio confirms what many analysts have said would happen: a bridging between Boko Haram and ISIS.

Boko Haram is also following ISIS’s trend of releasing messages online and mimicking the terror network’s propaganda.

In the message, he said.

“From your brother in Allah, Abu Mohamed Abu Bakr bin Mohammed Shekau, the Imam of Jamaátu Ahlus Sunnah Lidda Awaati Wal Jihad to the Caliph of Muslims Abubakar Abu Bakr Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi. We are sending you this message, following what Allah said in his Quran (And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves) and what the Prophet, Peace be upon him said (Whoever died and he had not Imam, died by death of ignorance). 

In submission to the order of Allah “Azza wa Jal”, and submission to the order of the prophet, peace be upon him to not separate from each other and to stay united as Ummah as Jammaaáh, We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity, in hardship and ease, and to endure being discriminated against and not to dispute about rule with those in power, except in case of evident infidelity,” read an English-language translation of the video broadcast in Arabic.