DAKAR, Senegal – The Nigeria-based terror group Boko Haram issued a new threat Monday against neighbouring countries Niger and Chad, warning the fighters were prepared to carry out suicide bombings in the countries sending troops to help fight the extremists.
In a translation published by the SITE Intelligence Group, the group sharply criticized Niger for joining the effort and said the country was being dragged into a “swamp of darkness.” Over the last 10 days, Boko Haram fighters have repeatedly struck the town of Diffa but not the capital.
“If you insist on continuing the aggression and the coalition with the government of Chad, then we give you glad tidings that the land of Niger is easier than the land of Nigeria and moving the war to the depth of your cities will be the first reaction toward any aggression that occurs after this statement,” it said, according to SITE’s transcript.
The Boko Haram statement also said the group had martyrdom-seekers “waiting the commands” to launch suicide attacks.
The new threat comes as officials from Niger and other neighbouring countries meet in the capital of Cameroon to plot a joint military offensive against Boko Haram. The multinational force to fight Boko Haram is expected to be formally launched in coming weeks.
The terror group has fought a five-year insurgency against Nigeria’s government, leaving 10,000 people dead last year alone. It began stepping up its attacks against neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad earlier this year as those countries all have pledged to send military support.
Boko Haram’s insurgency has forced some 157,000 people to seek refuge in Niger, while 40,000 others have gone to Cameroon and 17,000 are in Chad, the U.N. said. Almost 1 million Nigerians are internally displaced, according to the country’s own statistics.
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