More
than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been married off to
militants, according to a man claiming to be the leader of the Islamic
extremists.
The
man, who identifies himself as Abubakar Shekau, said the 219 girls, who
were taken from the remote northeastern town of Chibok in April, are
now 'in their marital homes'.
He added that they have all converted to Islam and have now memorised two chapters of the Koran.
He
said: 'We have married them off. They are in their marital homes. Don't
you know the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls have converted to Islam?'
The
claims, which were published in a video seen today, contradict recent
claims by the Nigerian government that the girls would soon be freed.
They
call into question whether talks between a Boko Haram faction and the
government in neighbouring Chad will secure the girls' release.
The man claiming to be Shekau, who the Nigerian military says it killed a year ago, also denied there was a ceasefire.
Violence
has continued since the government announced the agreement, raising
doubts about how much influence Danladi Ahmadu, the man with whom the
govenment is negotiating, has over the group.
Shekau
also announced that Boko Haram, which means 'Western education is
sinful', was holding a German hostage after kidnapping him from the
northeastern city of Gombe in July.
Armed militants, understood to be linked to Boko Haram, kidnapped the teacher from a technical college.
Boko Haram has killed thousands of people since launching its campaign for an Islamic state five years ago.
The
terror group has attacked targets almost every day for weeks. Last week
it seized control of Mubi, the home town of Nigeria's defence chief
Alex Badeh. It was Badeh who announced the ceasefire.
Kidnapped: The 219 schoolgirls,
pictured here in a video released by Boko Haram shortly after their
abduction, have been 'married off' to jihadists, according to the terror
group. They were taken from Chibok in April
Violence: A car bomb thought to be
planted by Boko Haram killed at least 10 people at a crowded bus stop in
Gombe on Friday morning, pictured above. A ceasefire was declared with
the group two weeks ago
They
robbed banks, burned down houses and hoisted their black flag over the
Emir's palace, killing dozens of people and forcing thousands to flee,
witnesses said.
A
car bomb thought to be planted by Boko Haram killed at least 10 people
at a crowded bus stop in Gombe on Friday morning, emergency services
said.
The
government has blamed the violence on Boko Haram's allied criminal
networks that the group cannot control. There are believed to be several
competing factions within the group.
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