Why we attacked kano - Boko Haram

Why We Attacked Kano - Boko
Haram
MAIDUGURI—THE Boko Haram
sect has given reasons for its
weekend attacks, which led to
the killing of about 162 people in
Kano State, saying it was to
avenge the persecution of its
members.
Spokesman of the group, Abul
Qaqa, made this known in a
telephone interview with
newsmen in Maiduguri,
yesterday.
Claiming responsibility for the
attacks and multiple bombings
on police stations, State Security
Services, SSS, and passport office
buildings in Kano metropolis,
Qaga said: “Last night’s (Friday)
attacks and bombings of Kano
city followed our warnings in the
second week of December,
2011.”
‘We warned Kano stakeholders’
Besides, Qaqa also referred
reporters to an e-mail message
in which Imam Muhammad
Abubakar Shekau, Spiritual Head
of the sect, threatened that:
“Unless urgent steps are taken,
the group will launch endless
and violent attacks on Kano and
its environs because of arbitrary
arrest and persecution of his
members.”
Vanguard learnt that in the said
e-mail, Shekau said the group
had written an open letter to the
people of Kano, including the
Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero;
Governor Musa Kwankwaso,
Alhaji Aminu Dantata and Khalifa
Sheikh Isiaka Rabiu on recent
happenings in the ancient city.
Shekau revealed that but for the
intervention of some prominent
scholars in Kano, his group
would have made the city
ungovernable a long time ago.
Alleges persecution
Qaqa said: “The message here is
that everybody knows that a lot
of our people were killed in Kano
State, especially in Wudil town.
We had perfected plans to take
revenge but some notable
scholars intervened by pleading
with us.
“They also assured that our
members would nevear be
persecuted again and we took
them by their words.
Unfortunately, however, about
five months ago, security
agencies began trailing and
arresting our members who are
carrying out their legitimate
businesses, alleging that they are
all thieves and armed robbers.
“Again, we perfected plans to
attack the city of Kano but the
scholars pleaded that we should
not. They advised that we should
write a formal letter of complaint
to some notable people. We
agreed and sent letters to the
Emir of Kano, Wamban Kano, Dan
Masanin Kano and the governor
of Kano State.
“We also posted the open letter
on the internet, but nothing was
done to stop the persecution of
our members.
“Recently, security agencies
launched a fresh onslaught on
some of our members in Kano
city in which even women and
children were not spared. Many
houses were raided and a
pregnant woman was
manhandled.
‘We respected Kano’
“Some of our members were
tortured with electric shock. All
these things happened in Kano, a
city that we hold in high esteem.
“We have varied opinions about
Kano, including the option of
launching endless campaign of
violence, but the scholars that
have been talking to us are still
persuading us to tarry a while.
“We are compelled to write this
open letter so that the world will
know what is happening.”