Boko Haram Pledges Allegiance To The Islamic State

CNN: Boko Haram purportedly pledges allegiance to ISIS

(CNN)Boko Haram, the Nigeria-based Islamist terror group, has pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to an audio message purported to be from Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau.

In the audio, which was posted online Saturday, the speaker says Boko Haram is announcing its "allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi," which is another name for ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

CNN has not been able to independently authenticate the message.

WNU Editor: The Islamic State franchise is growing .... Boko Haram Swears Allegiance To ISIS: 31 Groups Now Pledge Support Or Allegiance To Islamic State Group (IBTimes)

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Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau Pledges Allegiance to ISIS in New Audio -- NBC
Boko Haram Swears Loyalty to ISIS. But Will ISIS Swear Back? -- Daily Beast
Terror groups add urgency to U.S. training for African troops -- Seattle Times/NYT
Implications of Boko Haram’s Allegiance to the Islamic State -- Daniel Wagner, International Policy Digest