agreementwith the Federal Government.
The group stated this in a new video by its leader, Abubakar Shekau.
The video is available to AP and quoted by Huffington Post.
"We will not enter into any agreement with non-believers or the
Nigerian government," Mr. Shekau was quoted as saying in Hausa
language.
Mr. Shekau's statement contradicts that of the federal government.
The Minister of Special Duties and chairman of the presidential task
force negotiating with the group, Kabiru Turaki, had said the group
had agreed to a ceasefire with his committee. He said the ceasefire
would soon be signed publicly with the group.
Mr. Turaki had, however, said his committee did not meet nor negotiate
with Mr. Shekau directly, but negotiated with his deputy.
To burn more schools
Mr. Shekau also said in the video that his group was not responsible
for killing of school children in Borno and Yobe States.
"We don't touch small children, we only burn the schools," he said.
"Our religion does not permit us to touch small children and women, we
don't kill children."
The sect leader's claim tallies with that announced by Mr. Turaki, who
said the sect told his committee that they were not responsible for
the attack on a government secondary school in Mamudo. About 28
students and a teacher were killed when gunmen attacked the school,
weeks after similar attacks in other parts of Yobe and Borno. Most of
the Mamudo students were burnt alive, witnesses had said.
Mr. Shekau, however, said he supported the attacks on the schools and
his sect would "burn down the schools, if they are not Islamic
religious schools for Allah."
The Boko Haram leader also said his sect would attack and kill
teachers teaching western education.
Attacks by Boko Haram and gunmen have continued- although to a lesser
degree, according to residents- in Borno and Yobe despite the
declaration of a State of Emergency in the states by President
Goodluck Jonathan almost two months ago.
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