ICC Note: Boko Haram has been a fearful enemy of all of Nigeria since its inception. But this report of its new leader’s ambitions is very concerning because Christians have now been designated as the terrorist group’s central target, rather than nonconforming Muslims. Churches and Christians in Nigeria need our prayers more than ever to combat this evil, diseased ideology that has already been thrust upon their communities in Nigeria through unspeakable brutality and malice.

8/4/2016 Lagos, Nigeria (Fox News) – Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamic extremists have a new leader who is threatening to bomb churches and kill Christians while ending attacks on mosques and markets used by ordinary Muslims, according to an interview published Wednesday by the Islamic State group.

He also says there is a Western plot to Christianize the region and has accused charities of using their aid for that purpose, according to a SITE Intelligence Group translation of an interview published Wednesday in the Islamic State newspaper al-Nabaa.

The newspaper identified Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the new “wali,” or governor, of its so-called West Africa Province. The “wali” title was previously used to describe long-time Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

The report did not say what Shekau’s current status was, although there have been rumors for weeks that he had been replaced.

The interview with al-Barnawi indicates a major shift in strategy for the Nigerian extremists, who have killed many more Muslims than Christians in attacks in mosques with suicide bombers and gunmen.

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