According to an audio statement posted online yesterday by Boko Haram leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Nigerian-based terror group has pledged allegiance to ISIS.  Originally affiliated with al Qaeda, Boko Haram has recently patterned itself after ISIS, not only in its brutal acts of terror, but also by releasing online messages and engaging in propaganda very similar to ISIS.

While ISIS has garnered most of the attention with its barbaric terror, Boko Haram has quietly been just as barbaric in its terrorist activity in northern Africa.  For example, while the world watched with horror as 17 were murdered in terrorist attacks in Paris in January, Boko Haram murdered at least 2500 in the same time frame.  Yet, the world heard very little about it.

Not only is Boko Haram cut from the same cloth as ISIS, but their area of concentration stretches across a very large section of North Africa, giving ISIS additional territory and credibility.  But here is the interesting part: ISIS has not acknowledged the pledge.  US intelligence officials have suggested that the Arab world may not see black Africans “as equivalent to them.”   Regardless, Boko Haram now sees ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi as their caliph, and they will likely carry out terrorist objectives that align with the evil intents of Al-Baghdadi and ISIS.

How the world deals with ISIS will certainly have impact on how emboldened Boko Haram will be to perpetuate their evil on the African continent.  By the way, Ezekiel 38 indicates that the northern coalition that will one day invade Israel will include people groups from northern Africa.  Time is short, and wisdom to deal with such terror is critical.  Our world leaders need our prayers, so let’s be faithful to pray for them.