The leader of extremist group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has pledged allegiance to the leader of the terror group, ISIS, Abubakr Al-Qurashi.

In an audio message uploaded to the internet on Saturday, Shekau said his group is reaching out to ISIS based on divine provisions in the Holy Quran, and as directed by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.

He said every Muslim must have a leader or risks dying in ignorance.

While Boko Haram seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in the north eastern part of Nigeria, ISIS is pushing a similar agenda in Iraq and Syria.

Boko Haram has recently suffered massive casualties following a reinvigorated onslaught from the combined armed forces of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Although Shekau did not mention the current onslaught against his group, he said there is need for unity between the two groups.

Shekau delivered his message this time through an audio recording, not video, his preferred style. The authenticity of the clip could not be immediately verified.

“In submission to the order of Allah “Azzawa Jal”, and submission to the order of the prophet peace be upon him to not separate from each other and to stay united as Ummah as Jamaa’ah,” he said.

“We announce our allegiance to the caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity, in hardship and ease, and to endure being discriminated against, and not to dispute about rule with those in power, except in case of evident infidelity regarding that which there is a proof from Allah,” he said.

See full text of the speech below:

From your brother in Allah Abu Mohammed Abubakr bin Mohammed Shekau, the Imam of Jamatu Ahlus Sunnah lidda Awati Wal Jihad to the caliph of Muslims Abubakar Abu Bakr Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi, we are sending ypu this message, following what Allah said in his Quran: (And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves).

And what the prophet peace be upon him said: ( Whoever died and he had not Imam, died by death of ignorance), In submission to the order of Allah “Azzawa Jal”, and submission to the order of the prophet peace be upon him to not separate from each other and to stay united as ummah as Jamaa’ah, we announce our allegiance to the caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity, in hardship and ease, and to endure being discriminated against, and not to dispute about rule with those in power, except in case of evident infidelity regarding that which there is a proof from Allah.

We call on Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the caliph and support him, as obedience to Allah and as their application of the absent duty of the era. We pledge allegiance to the caliph because of the interest of the Ummah in their religion and in their Dunya is to have an Imam that looks after them according to the Allah’s Rule and fights the enemies of Islam and those who fights the Rule of Allah and this is the completeness of the religion with the book that guides and the sword that favours.

Ibn Taimiyyah may Allah have mercy on him said people must know that having to rule the people is one of the greatest duties of the Religion, even the religion and the world for Muslims will never be in complete without it, the interest of Sons of Adam won’t be successful without them being united under one Jamaa’ah,after their gathering together they must have a head, and it is not a problem even if the less of the group who oppose the others united for this cause ….Jama’at Ahlis Sunnah Lid Daawati Wal Jihad

We pledge allegiance because there is no cure of the dissimilarity that Ummah have except the Caliphate, we also call all the Muslims to join us in this goodness, because it would enrage the enemy of Allah, by Allah, our gathering under one banner, under one Imam is more heavy to the enemy.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

And to Allah belongs (all) honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know, May Allah bless our prophet Muhammad (SAW)