Leader of Nigerian Islamist Group Says The Government's Offensive is Failing

Calling for Islamists abroad to join the fight

The leader of the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram says his forces are beating back a military offensive aimed at stopping the group's four-year insurgency.

In a video released to news agencies, Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau said Nigerian soldiers encountering militants have run away and thrown down their arms in flight.

Shekau called on like-minded Islamists in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria to join the fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.