Nigeria's Boko Haram Claims Caliphate Expanding

Boko Haram is claiming control of another Nigerian town, saying it has added it to its own Islamic caliphate in the north.

In a videotaped message, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed the group has taken control of Gwoza, a northeastern town in Borno State. Shekau said Allah is going to use Islam to rule Nigeria and the whole world.

"Thanks be to Allah who gave victory to our brethren in Gwoza and made it part of the Islamic caliphate," he said on the tape. "By the grace of Allah we will not leave the town. We have come to stay."

In an earlier video, Shekau praised Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State, but the connection between the two terror groups is yet unknown.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's army denied the terrorists' claims, stating "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact."

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In April, Boko Haram jihadists kidnapped 276 school girls, who are still being held captive.

More than 4,000 people have been killed this year in Boko Haram's jihad ("holy" war) in Nigeria.