Don't give up your arms, Boko Haram tell Residents

Elombah.com

3 November 2011

Don't give up your arms, Boko Haram tell Residents       

A purported spokesman for a Nigerian Islamist sect has dismissed an arms mop up exercise by soldiers in the restive city of Maiduguri as a ploy to disarm residents ahead of a suspected crackdown. In a conference call with journalists in the northeastern city, a man identifying himself as a spokesman for

 the Boko Haram sect that has been behind strings of deadly attacks in recent months, called on the city's residents not to give in to what he called a trick by the military.

Nigerian soldiers began a house-to-house search Tuesday for arms in the city of Maiduguri wracked by deadly attacks by a radical Islamist sect in recent months, the army and residents said. The operation followed the expiration of an October 31 deadline for residents to submit arms in their possession

"I call on the people of Maiduguri not to give in to this deception because it will amount to mortgaging your freedom and your enemies will attack you with ease," said Abu Qaqa.