Boko Haram is holding a French priest who was kidnapped in northern Cameroon, a source in the banned Nigerian Islamist group said on Friday, rejecting claims of a rift among the insurgents.

“I can confirm that the French priest is in the hands of mujahideen (fighters) from Jamaat Ahl al-Sunna Li Da’wat al-Jihad, who carried out the operation that was co-ordinated with Ansaru,” he told AFP.

Boko Haram prefers to go by the Arabic name, which translates as “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” (holy war).


The United States on Wednesday listed both Boko Haram and Ansaru as terror groups, bowing to months of pressure to act after years of bloody violence in northeast and central Nigeria that has left thousands dead.

Hours after the declaration, heavily armed men abducted Roman Catholic priest Georges Vandenbeusch from his home near the town of Koza in northern Cameroon, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Nigerian border.

He was seized by about 15 people, who burst into his Nguetchewe parish base, according to the bishop of the Nanterre diocese near Paris, which has authority over the cleric.

The Boko Haram source, who did not want to be identified, declined also to say where the 42-year-old priest was being held, after the Cameroon authorities said they feared he had been taken across the border into Nigeria.

Speaking in Paris after talks with Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, French President Francois Hollande said Vandenbeusch had “most likely” been taken to Nigeria.

“We are checking all the information that we can get,” he told reporters, adding that he would speak with his counterpart in Cameroon, Paul Biya, and vowing that France was doing “all it could to find… and free” the priest.

“The fight against terrorism is still our main concern and common purpose,” he added.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi described the kidnapping as “an extremely serious and horrible case, reflected the spread of hatred and violence in the region.”

The Boko Haram source promised to reveal more details about the kidnapping “at the appropriate time”.

But he added that claims of rifts within the ranks of the insurgent group, which has been linked to Al-Qaeda’s operations in north and western Africa, were exaggerated.

Boko Haram originally claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in northern Nigeria and has made suicide bombing and gun attacks its trademark.

Ansaru has been linked to at least three hostage-takings of foreigners since 2011 and has mentioned French intervention in Mali and European nations’ “atrocities done to the religion of Allah” when claiming kidnappings.

“There is a deliberate attempt by the enemies of Islam to portray Jamaat Ahl al-Sunna Li Da’wat al-Jihad as sharply divided,” the source said.

“What they don’t know or ignore is that the two groups work closely together and most of the operations by the mujahideen are jointly carried out by the mujahideen from both sides.”

AFP tried to verify the Boko Haram claim from other sources but there was no immediate information available from the authorities.

The kidnapping of Vandenbeusch, who had been working in the area for two years and had ignored French government warnings about the dangers of staying in the region, brings to eight the total number of French hostages held worldwide.

Four others are being held in Syria, another in Nigeria and two in the Sahel region on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/boko-haram-holding-kidnapped-french-priest-source/#sthash.PM47Trrk.dpuf

The hands of the French is moisturized by African blood. Looks like they're getting ready again to fund Boko-Haram. Every time they -French- pay these convenient ransoms to Bokoharam Nigerians receive the receipt in blood.

Litmus: The hands of the French is moisturized by African blood. Looks like they're getting ready again to fund Boko-Haram. Every time they -French- pay these convenient ransoms to Bokoharam Nigerians receive the receipt in blood.

true talk... boko and ansura are now full blown terrorist group...no more agitation for islamization of nigeria...

Very SOON drones will be roaming over the SKY of the northern part of Nigeria....................... Kill 'em all

THIS PEOPLE(BOKO HARAM AND CO) ARE ALL ANIMALS(LOWER). Threat to global peace(religion), i rest my case

Bokoharam dey kidnapp? I was thinking they only specialise in blowing up lives and properties Okies, dats a new one.

ET.

Nigerian Security heads needs to watch the whole series of "24”

Mumu people

...

Gorilla warfare is the hardest to end. I don't see the war ending in 4 decades. May God spare His own. Amen.

Litmus: The hands of the French is moisturized by African blood. Looks like they're getting ready again to fund Boko-Haram. Every time they -French- pay these convenient ransoms to Bokoharam Nigerians receive the receipt in blood.

If this is true then I say kill the terrorists and kill the collateral.

ran outta words to describe this GOONS,,AW! I just found one........

hmm..ok o. Kidnap made in cameroon, seems the cameroon border is unsecure. By the way what will be the ransom? Money?

M.

Marine*etyon:
Gorilla warfare is the hardest to end. I don't see the war ending in 4 decades. May God spare His own. Amen.

Gorila ke? Its Guerilla bros

bcomputer101:

You are here again with your scam abi?

Why are you advertising your ignorance here?
Stray spe!rms like you are the reason condoms should be free and abortion legalized in Nigeria...


This is why i support abortion
Drop that bottle and modify your comment

God bless u. All dis link na scam,fake waste of time. Am into it b4 nd wnt try dat again.

Boko Haram is broke and needs more money-JTF has destroyed most of their capacity,that's why they only attack defenceless villagers and travellers in remote areas.

Foreign countries like France that have always wanted a weakened Nigeria use ransom payments to fund insurgents.

This may sound heartless and may God forgive me but I call on Nigerian govt to call Boko Haram's bluff and let them do what they like with the french priest.

Once again, may God forgive me but these are my honest views.

Camerron security forces need to step up their game,it's been a while since bh strike in Nigeria,most of dem are in cameroon now,if dis war must be won,Cameroon shud get serious in dis fight against bh

powerblaze:

Gorila ke? Its Guerilla bros

Lol..u korrect!

God, may the man of God use it as an opportunity to bring your gospel to the unbeliever...

Jesus shud have protected d priest na

Holy war they say Islam is a religion of peace that's what there learned scholars say. Boko haram re fighting for there own interest leave GOD out of it.

ednut1: Jesus shud have protected d priest na

May God forgive ur ignorance

He who brings ants infested wood to his house is inviting the lizard to a feast.
Boko Haram activities in the North will not stop until the northern elites sponsoring them are brought to book by the world powers and the drones flying over the skies of the northen states.

ednut1: Jesus shud have protected d priest na

Abi?

I'm only sorry for Cameroon;they connived with their masters in Paris to provide a save haven for Boko Haram in Northern Cameroon,so as to destroy Nigeria.

They forgotten that Cameroon just like Nigeria has a North/South divide,where the North is largely muslim and the South mainly Christian.

As at independence France gave political power to Northern Cameroon...but evenually the Southern Cameroonians wrestled power from the North. For almost 30 years, political power has resided in Southern Cameroon led by Paul Biya.

A lot of Northern muslim Cameroonians still feel aggrieved and marginalized. France also is weary of President Paul Biya,who now insists that his people assert more control over Cameroonian Oil wells (Yes, Cameroon is also an oil producer and ALL her oil industry is controlled 100% by France)

My prediction is, sooner than later runaway Boko Haram fighters will team up with Northern Cameroonians and form a formidable rebel group that will march down South and overthrow president Paul Biya. It is only then that we'll see Paul Biya shuttling between Abuja and Yaounde but Nigeria will form 'siddon look'.

Boko Haram's military campaign in Nigeria has failed; in spite of all our imperfections,The Nigerian army is too strong for them-BH can only rely on guerilla tactics that will be limited to remote border towns.

akereconfi: Very SOON drones will be roaming over the SKY of the northern part of Nigeria....................... Kill 'em all

na, wah o!!!!!!!!

11

CastleandGreen: He who brings ants infested wood to his house is inviting the lizard to a feast.
Boko Haram activities in the North will not stop until the northern elites sponsoring them are brought to book by the world powers and the drones flying over the skies of the northen states.

Hmmm....drones in the northern skies?...you are inviting the lizard to a feast and don't even know. Do you really think the drones will be confined to making strikes in the north only?...do you really think the drones target terrorists only?...do you think once they begin operation the FG can get them to stop?...do you think wherever you are in Nigeria you or your family would be safe from drone attacks...or the fear of being attacked? Try finding out what is happening in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan...the attacks...fear of attacks and how many innocent people are killed...all deemed terrorists. Do you know the president of Pakistan...and Afghanistan went to the White House to beg...yes...beg them to stop the drone attacks?....and guess what they were told?..basically that the US has the right and will pursue terrorists anywhere in the world. By declaring BH a terrorist group...you dont have to ask for drone attacks....they are coming whether you or the FG like or not...coming not to the north only...but Nigeria period.Then what?...be careful what you ask for. The war on terrorism is like the war on drugs or a war on prostitution...it can never end.