The Defence Headquarters has said that there is no truth in the declaration by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, that Gwoza town in Borno State is now part of an Islamic Caliphate under the control of the sect..

In a video released on Sunday, the wanted leader of the militant group, Abubakar Shekau, declared that Gwoza which fell to the terrorists over a week ago has come under the rule of an Islamic Caliphate.

Reacting to the claim, the Nigerian military said the claim was empty and that the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact.”

In a tweet on its Twitter handle, DefenceInfong, the military stated that “Any group of terrorists laying claim to any portion of the country will not be allowed to get away with the expression of delusion and crime.”

“Appropriate military operations to secure that area from the activities of the bandits is still ongoing,” it said further.

However, reports on ground still indicate that the militants have a firm hold on most parts of Gwoza which they captured nearly two weeks ago. An attempt by Nigerian troops to recapture the town was repelled and resulted in casualties on both sides.