Maiduguri, Nigeria - A purported spokesman for Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram has denied the group was behind the murder of a relative of its slain ex-leader who held peace talks with a former president.
In a conference call with journalists in the northeastern city of Maiduguri late Sunday, a man who identified himself as a spokesman for the sect described the killing of Babakura Fugu as "painful and unfortunate."
Fugu, assassinated on Saturday, was the brother-in-law of Mohammed Yusuf, who was captured during a military assault to put down a 2009 uprising by Boko Haram and later killed. Police said at the time that he had tried to escape.
Fugu had been involved in peace talks on Thursday with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. The talks occurred in the wake of the August 26 bomb attack on UN headquarters in Nigeria claimed by Boko Haram.
"We received with shock the death of a family member of our leader Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf," the spokesman who identified himself as Abu Qaqa said.
"The killing of Babakura Fugu was painful and unfortunate and we hereby deny responsibility for this act as portrayed in the media.
"But with dismay we later heard ... that we said we were responsible based on a text message to the media. This is unacceptable."
A man identifying himself as Abu Qaqa has claimed to speak on behalf of the sect on several previous occasions, but Boko Haram is believed to have a number of factions and several others have identified themselves as spokesmen as well.
Fugu, 48, was shot dead by gunmen outside his house on Saturday.
An hour after the killing, a text message was sent to media outlets, including AFP, purporting to be from Boko Haram and appearing to threaten the life of Obasanjo and all those who facilitated the meeting.
Qaqa threatened to "take action" on journalists who misrepresent the sect in the future.
"This kind of misrepresentation has been going on for some time and we will not tolerate it any longer.
"Media houses should know that we have an understanding with the press whom we regard as mediators," Qaqa said.
"But if they don't do their job professionally, we will be compelled to take action on their reporters on the ground just the way we took action on security agents and other enemies of Islam."
He warned the news media to disregard statements purported to be from the sect that do not originate from its two "spokesmen" -- Abu Darda and Abu Zaid -- or any other person they delegate to speak on their behalf, including Qaqa.
Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of shootings and bomb blasts, mainly in Nigeria's northeast, but it has also claimed responsibility for the UN bombing that killed at least 23 people and an attack on police headquarters in Abuja in June.