Nigerian Islamic extremist leader: We will burn down schools, kill teachers but not children

LAGOS, Nigeria – The leader of Nigeria's extremist Islamic sect threatens to burn down more schools and kill teachers. But he denies his fighters are killing children.

Islamic radical Abubakar Shekau speaks in a video released Saturday and denies his Boko Haram group is negotiating a peace with the Nigerian government.

He says he supports fighters who have burned down several schools in northeastern Nigeria in recent weeks but that the Quran teaches one must not kill children, women and elderly people. Dozens of children have been killed.

But he says "School teachers who are teaching Western education? We will kill them! We will kill them."

Attacks on schools have continued though Nigeria has deployed thousands of troops to put down an Islamic uprising posing the greatest threat in years to national security.