This follows a carnage that left at least 50 people dead in in the Borno state capital Maiduguri.

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The Boko Haram declaration was made by the group’s leader Abubaker Shekau.

Their six- year fight to establish an Islamic caliphate in north easter Nigeria has left thousands

dead and has spread to neighbouring states.

Boko Haram has been formally associated with Al Qaida.

The alignment with Islamic State comes as no surprise. Boko Haram’s harsh ideology and actions

mirror those of IS.

It provides a propaganda boost for the Boko Haram and an injection of energy for IS whose

operations in Iraq and Syria are very much stalled on the defensive.

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His bellicose video comes as jihadis kill dozens in suicide bombings.

Nigeria’s delayed elections in order to engage Boko Haram, who insurrection in the north east of the country makes polling there impossible.

Yesterday, 20 people died following explosions at a military checkpoint outside the north-eastern town of Biu.

Seventeen of these were Boko Haram militants killed by troops.

Also yesterday, a suicide bomber killed four and injured five at a restaurant near a military checkpoint in Potiskum in north-eastern Nigeria.

The Nigerian Human Rights Commission says at least 58 people have been killed in pre-election violence.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s facing a strong challenge from opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler.

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He says the 200schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok more than six months ago have converted to Islam and been married off to fighters.

Abubaker Shekau who speaks for the Islamist militant group Boko Haram denies claims by the government a fortnight ago that there’s been a truce that will end in the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

Boko Haram’s not made a ceasefire with anyone, he insists. It’s not negotiating with anyone.

Boko Haram remains bent on controlling the north east of Nigeria.

Its five-year insurgency has cost more than 2 000 civilian lives.

He says the abducted schoolgirls are now all in their marital homes.

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