An al-Qaeda cell in North Africa, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), yesterday offered to help Nigerian Muslims with training and weapons during their battles, as Nigeria grapples with religious crisis.
This deadly offer is coming 71 days after President Umaru Yar ‘Adua travelled out of the country on health grounds without fulfilling the constitutional obligation of handing over power to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan.
According to a Reuter’s report, the al-Qaeda group, while claiming a constituency in the Nigerian Muslim community, said, “we are ready to train your people in weapons, and give you whatever support we can in men, arms and munitions to enable you to defend our people in Nigeria,” according to its statement posted on Islamic websites that often carry statements from groups using the al-Qaeda signature.