Boko Haram Leader, Shekau Releases New Audio Message, Threatens Nigerian Lawyer Bulama Bukarti

The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, on Friday released a new audio message, threatening to attack a UK-based Nigerian lawyer, Audu Bulama Bukarti.

Mr Bukarti, an analyst in the Co-Existence team at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, leads the team’s work on sub-Saharan Africa and has studied extremist groups in Africa, particularly Boko Haram, for over a decade.

The lawyer focuses on using Islamic religious texts in countering violent ideologies and has authored a paper entitled “Discourses and Constituencies of Boko Haram”, which assembled the main ideological arguments and textual authorities of Boko Haram and led to the adoption of a preaching manual for countering violent extremism in the region.

In the 5-minute audio message, entitled ‘Response of Abubakar Shekau to the Evil Man (Bulama Bukarti)’, the terrorist leader said Mr Bukarti was in trouble and would never know peace from today [Friday].

Below is the full transcript of the 5:22 seconds audio message

In the name of Allah. All praises are due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet. After this, my Muslim brothers all over the world, those we see and those we don’t see alike, I greet you in the Islamic formula: Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah (Peace be upon you).

Secondly, this speaker is the leader of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah lid Dawati wal Jihad [JAS], who all praises due to Allah [speaks] this morning of Friday, 4 Rabi’ul Awwal 1441 AH. There are messages that get to us and we know the person making them and he will not succeed.

We are sending him a message to serve as a proof against him if he does not repent. You should understand Bulama Bukarti, you have been speaking about JAS and its Imam, Abubakar ibn Muhammad ash-Shakawiy [that’s the speaker]. You have been speaking about us saying that we are just claiming affinity with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his religion [Islam] and the People of Tradition [of Prophet Muhammad] and the Jama’a. You say these claims of ours are false and that we do not represent Islam. Allah (God) knows who is right and this a favour from Allah, we pray that He [Allah] bestows his blessing on us. But you are not the Judge. Bear my message in your mind. It will become a catastrophe for you if you don’t repent before Allah or on the Day of Judgement.

We practice the religion of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which he and his companions practiced. “What I practice today, I and my companions” [this is statement of Prophet Muhammad]. This is what we want to die doing. May Allah kill us in this state. This is like a sermon, a warning to you so you may repent. And this statement, I appoint Allah as my witness as I speak, by Allah, it will shake your heart whether you like it or not, even if you deny it. You should fear Allah; we follow the Qur’an and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the predecessor (salaf). We want the Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet to become the law. Even in the language you know, rule and regulations of the country cannot run anything. Even in the statements of Ahlu al-Halli wal Aqd (People of knowledge and responsibility), each statement is supported by a verse of the Qur’an or tradition of Prophet Muhammad. Even that needs to be true. He who lies will punished by Allah in the hereafter.

These pregnant statements that I have made will, by God, send nervous shock to your heart. We follow the Ahlis Sunnah wal Jama’a and we know our followers and we have justification for what we do. Allah says “Whoever does a good deed – it is for himself; and whoever does evil – it is against the self. Then to your Lord you will be returned”. This is our creed. I would not elongate my address to you. You have heard me and it will shock you. Because you have gone and stayed with Westerners; you study Western education, you are living a life forbidden by Prophet Muhammad and you feel you have authority to make statements about us. By Allah, you are nothing. All your statements can be demolished with one verse of the Qur’an because I am talking based knowledge and, by Allah, I know you understand me whether you like it or not.

We JAS follow the creed of Ahlis Sunnah wal Jama’a; we are following the predecessors; we are prosecuting a jihad. We want to establish an Islamic State; all our activities are based on the Qur’an and Sunnah and interpretation of pious predecessors, that’s the as-salaf as-salihin. That’s where we stand. That is what we have pledged to do. It is not you I am reporting this to; God has heard us. Do whatever you want to do; say whatever you want to say. Bulama Bukarti, you are in trouble. From today, you will never know peace. By Allah, you must repent.

It’s Shekau. All peace and blessings be with the Prophet of Allah. All thanks are due to Allah.

Culled from Daily Nigerian