Nigeria’s Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram says it has gone international and has the intention of hitting the United States of America.

Speaking in a new video obtained by the French news agency (AFP), Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau (earlier reported killed by the Nigerian military), said “the whole world” feared him, mentioning US President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and even the late British Premier Margaret Thatcher among those who allegedly feared him.

Shekau then focused on the United States, which on November 13 designated Boko Haram and its offshoot Ansaru as international terror groups. He said: “You are boasting you are going to join forces with Nigeria to crush us. Bloody liars.”

“You couldn’t crush us when we were carrying sticks. By Allah, we will never stop. Don’t think we will stop in Maiduguri.

“Tomorrow you will see us in America itself. Our operation is not confined to Nigeria. It is for the whole world.”

AFP said the video, which was obtained through an intermediary, shows Shekau dressed in military fatigues with a turban and Kalashnikov assault rifle leaning on his chest. He speaks for 19 minutes, claiming responsibility for the daring raid on military installations in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on December 2.

Shekau in the video claimed that Boko Haram got “spoils” from the raid.

“Allah the Almighty has given us victory in the attack we launched inside Maiduguri [which was] called Borno in ancient times,” said Shekau in a 40-minute clip.

Speaking in Arabic, Hausa and Kanuri, Shekau added: “We stormed the city and fought them [and] Allah blessed us with lots of booty.”

The video also shows a display of weapons the banned Islamist group says it seized in the attack, including dozens of Kalashnikovs and rockets.

AFP however said the authenticity of the tape could not be verified independently “but it appears to back up descriptions from witnesses and the military, who described aircraft being destroyed and buildings set on fire.”

Thousands of people have died in deadly violence since 2009, both at the hands of the militants and as a result of the military response to the violence.

•Photo shows Boko Haram leader Shekau.

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