Boko Haraam leader Abubakar Shekau has denied the government’s previous announcement of a ceasefire or any pending agreement to release girls kidnapped by the group in April. He also said the girls have been converted to Islam and “married … off” and threatened to kill a German hostage. A car bomb killed at least 23 people and injured scores more in the city of Gombe in northeast Nigeria. A report claims that 41 members of Boko Haraam were beheaded by militia in the Gur area following a failed attack.
