Nigerian armed group, which has faced setbacks from growing regional offensive, pledges allegiance to ISIL.

The leader of the Nigeria-based group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Boko Haram, which wants to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, is believed to have control over about 20,000 square kilometres in the country’s northeast.

The armed group has focused its violence mainly inside Nigeria but has recently launched attacks in neighbouring Cameroon and Chad.

So, what does the allegiance to ISIL mean for Nigeria?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Martin Reardon - senior vice-president of the Soufan Group and specialist on armed groups.

Adesoji Adeniyi - specialist on peace and security issues in Nigeria at the Ramphal Institute.

Ryan Cummings - chief analyst for Africa in the Crisis Management Group, Red24.

Source: Al Jazeera