KANAMMA, Nigeria, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The militant Islamist group Boko Haram will continue its violence in Nigeria until the country is ruled by Shariah law, a member told The Guardian of Britain.
"We will consider negotiation only when we have brought the government to their knees," Abu Qaqa said. "Once we see that things are being done according to the dictates of Allah, and our members are released [from prison], we will only put aside our arms, but we will not lay them down. You don't put down your arms in Islam, you only put them aside."
Qaqa, a pseudonym, told The Guardian group members were spiritual followers of al-Qaida who he said had met senior figures in the terrorist group in visits to Saudi Arabia.
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden," claimed responsibility for a Jan. 20 attack that killed 186 people in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, and the group has killed nearly 1,000 people in Nigeria, The Guardian said.
Shariah law is already in place in Nigeria's Muslim-majority north, and Qaqa said rights of the country's 70 million Christians, half the country's population, would be protected in a Muslim state but that everyone would have to follow Shariah law.
"There are no exceptions," he said. "Even if you are a Muslim and you don't abide by Shariah, we will kill you."
Nigerian officials have expressed hope "moderate elements" of the group might negotiate a settlement.
But Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has rejected President Goodluck Jonathan's calls for negotiated peace.
