BOKOHARAM distributes leaflets in Kano

– The Islamists group
known as Boko Haram has urged
residents of the city of Kano to
“persevere” as the group attacks the
country’s security services, in leaflets
distributed around the city.
The content of the leaflets, distributed in
four areas of the mainly Muslim northern
hub, could not be verified, but was
described as a message from Abubakar
Muhammad Shekau, the head of the
group that killed at least 185 in the city
on January 20.
Boko Haram is aware of “the
atmosphere of inconvenience our
operations have thrown people into,”
the leaflet said.
The city has been hit by a series of
unprecedented attacks in recent days,
which have largely targetted the police.
“You should… persevere with the
difficult situation the struggle for the
entrenchment of an Islamic system puts
you in and seek reward from God by
supporting it.”
The document also restated claims that
the group, blamed for more than 200
deaths already this year, does not target
civilians.
“We have on several occasions explained
the categories of people we attack and
they include: government officials,
government security agents, Christians
loyal to CAN (Christian Association of
Nigeria) and whoever collaborates in
arresting or killing us even if he is a
Muslim,” the document said.
The group has previously distributed
leaflets around Kano.
“Certainly the prophet lived with non-
Muslims and entered into a pact with
them but on specified terms, including
the pledge that they would not desecrate
our religion,”