The Boko Haram spokesperson, Abu Qaqa said yesterday that his militant group is responsible for the Christmas day attacks across the North. The spokesperson who spoke to journalists on phone, said the attacks were meant to tell the security agencies that no amount of surveillance will deter his members from doing whatever they planned to do. “By the grace of God, we are responsible for all the attacks today (Sunday)” he said. “What we did was a reminder to all those that forgot the atrocities committed against our Muslim brothers during the Eid-el Fitr celebrations in Jos. Many Muslims were killed but the Federal Government and the international community maintained sealed lips,” he said.
Abu Qaqa said also that “there will never be peace until our demands are met. We want all our brothers who have been incarcerated to be released; we want full implementation of the Sharia system and we want democracy and the Constitution to be suspended,” he said.
Daily Trust reports that in the last two years, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for several bloody attacks, especially in the North Eastern part of the country.
Over 80 people reportedly lost their lives as a result of multiple bombings and shootings in Maiduguri, Damaturu and Potiskum between Thursday and Saturday.
The clashes had claimed the lives of an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Ibrahim Abubakar and the officer in charge of MOPOL Superintendent Kabiru Musa as well as scores of other police officers, soldiers, members of the group and civilians.
On November 4, 2011, over 150 people reportedly lost their lives in a similar attack in Damaturu.