By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS
The militant Boko Haram movement on Wednesday reportedly applauded a violent attack on the offices of a French satirical magazine in French capital Paris last Wednesday.
The movement, which has been fighting against the Nigerian army for several years now, allegedly described the perpetrators of the attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine as "great martyrs."
The local Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust quoted Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau as allegedly threatening to take revenge if Charlie Hebdo had published more cartoons mocking Islam's prophet Muhammad.
"No one could remain a Muslim without renouncing democracy," Shekau said in a video purportedly emailed to the newspaper.
He vowed not to forgive people who denigrated the prophet.
Last Wednesday's attack on the French magazine by three masked gunmen left 12 people dead, including eight magazine journalists.
On Wednesday, the magazine published more cartoons mocking prophet Muhammad, which has drawn angry reaction in some Islamic countries and condemnation by several institutions.
Boko Haram has waged a violent insurgency in northeastern Nigeria since 2009 when its leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed in police custody.
Tens of thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands displaced in the violence.
