Group’s new leader threatens to bomb churches, kill Christians

Al-Barnawi is also said to have promised that attacks on mosques and Muslims would not occur under his rule as it did while former leader, Abubakar Shekau was in charge.

The new Boko Haram leader is reported to have made the comments during an interview published by Islamic State (ISIS) newspaper, Al-Nabaa, and translated by SITE Intelligence Group.

“Under my leadership the militants will work to seize back territory. Increasing numbers of youth are joining the cause, though Nigeria’s military reports that hundreds of its fighters have surrendered as aerial bombardments and ground assaults cut supply routes,” Al-Barnawi was quoted as saying.

“There have been attacks on crowded marketplaces in predominantly Muslim areas and the killings and kidnappings of schoolchildren. The targeting of students accounts for its nickname Boko Haram, which means Western education is sinful or forbidden.

“They strongly seek to Christianize the society. They exploit the condition of those who are displaced under the raging war, providing them with food and shelter and then Christianizing their children.

“The militants will respond to that threat by booby-trapping and blowing up every church that we are able to reach, and killing all of those (Christians) who we find from the citizens of the cross,” he added.

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Al-Barnawi has been named as a replacement for Shekau who is said to have resisted ISIS’ attempts to train his soldiers.