Islamic State beheads Christians in Nigeria

The so-called Islamic State (IS) have released a video which purports to show the killing of 11 Christians in Nigeria. 

The 56-second video was released on 26th December by the IS ‘news agency’ Amaq. No details were given about the victims, save that they had all been “captured in the past weeks” from Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno State. It is thought the video was deliberately timed to coincide with Christmas celebrations. 

IS say the action was part of new campaign to ‘avenge’ the killing of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by US forces in October. 

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killings and urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be divided along religious lines. 

IS is believed to still hold dozens of hostages in Nigeria, mainly security forces and aid workers, as well as those thought to be associated with government institutions. Earlier this month, the group released a video of the captives, appealing to Nigerian authorities and the Christian Association of Nigeria to intervene. 

Security analyst Kabiru Adamu says the video may be intended to increase tensions between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. 

Photo credit: salkida.com