The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has released a video threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless they receive $200 million (N38bn) – the same amount the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe pledged to countries fighting the sect – within 72 hours.
The video, identified as being made by the group’s al-Furqan media arm and posted on militant websites associated with the extremist group, mirrored other hostage threats it has made.
Brandishing a knife and dressed all in black, the British-accented militant widely known as ‘Jihadi John’ says: “To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,000 and 500 kilometres (5,280 miles) from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade. You have proudly donated $100 million (N19bn) to kill our women and children – to destroy the homes of the Muslim”.