Boko Haram leaders declared Islamic Caliphate in Gwoza town of Nigeria

The militant group Boko Haram on 25 August 2014 declared Islamic Caliphate in Gwoza town of Nigeria. The announcement was made by the chief of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau in a video. The video was obtained by the Agence France-Presse.  

A caliphate is an Islamic state led by a supreme religious and political leader known as a caliph. Caliph is supposed to be the successor to Muhammad.

More towns seized

In addition to Gwoza, Boko Haram is believed to be in control of large swathes of territory in Borno state.

Moreover, one town in neighbouring Yobe state is also under the control of Boko Haram.

ISIS – Caliphate in Iraq

The Islamic State, formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, declared a caliphate in June 2014 after capturing vast swathes of land in northern Iraq and eastern Syria.

The territory from northern Syria to the Iraqi province of Diyala north-east of Baghdad was captured by ISIS. The area is a vast stretch of land straddling the border that is already largely under Isis control.

About Boko Haram

Boko Haram is a militant group in Nigeria. It has been designated a global terrorist by the United States and sanctioned by the UN Security Council.