Skip to main content

DE-RADICALISED BOKO HARAM MEMBER CONFESSES TI HAVE LOST COUNT OF HIS KILLINGS


By: Agosu Omoleye




"I have killed so many Christians to the extent, I can’t remember how many lives I have Wasted".

Abdulwahab Usman, one of the alleged “repentant” Boko Haram fighters, says he did not expect the care he got from the Federal Government.

Usman, who hails from Bama in Borno state, is one of the 602 ex-Boko Haram members who completed the just concluded de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) programme in July.

The military had in 2016 launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members.

Usman in his interview said he can’t remember the number of people he had killed as they were many, and despite this, the government spared them upon surrendering.
 
“None of us was killed during the de-radicalisation process. I really enjoyed my stay in the camp because many of us were not expecting such hospitality from the Nigerian government. We were well taken care of,” he said.

“They taught us different trades. In the camp, we were exposed to skill acquisition such as welding, barbing and carpentry etc. But I chose to learn barbing. When I return to my hometown, I wish to continue with barbing. I will not go back to Boko Haram.

“We were given the Quran because of our assurance that we would become good citizens. I will not return to that group (Boko Haram) no matter the suffering since the government has chosen to be responsive.
 
“I was forced into the group for about five years. I can’t remember the number of people I killed as a member of the deadly sect because at some point I lost count.  Boko Haram people came to our village looking for those who are of school age and that was how my friends and I were forced into the group. Eventually, we escaped from Boko Haram hideout, so soldiers took us to Giwa barracks in Borno.”

The ex-Boko Haram fighter also urged the government to extend its assurances to the other insurgents who are willing to surrender.

“The Nigerian government should present them a document assuring them of their safety once they surrender,” he said.

He added that the 602 of them had surrendered because they saw the document promising them rehabilitation.

There has been an outrage over the government’s decision to reintegrate the repentant fighters back into society.

Borno residents who spoke with our news men had said the government should instead keep them in government houses for close monitoring instead of endangering the lives of the people.

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, had also kicked against the idea saying the insurgents will never repent.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

REAL MADRID FC MOVES UP LA LIGA TABLE FOLLOWING LEVANTE VICTORY

Real Madrid moved to the top of La Liga on Sunday as Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema both scored in a 2-0 win over Levante. Vinicius, who had proved decisive in Madrid’s win over Real Valladolid on Wednesday, looked set to see off Levante as well, before Benzema notched his first goal of the season late on. Madrid have now recorded three clean sheets from their four opening games, although a draw away at Real Sociedad has given an early advantage to Barcelona, who play away at Sevilla later on Sunday. “We had to suffer,” said Zinedine Zidane. “We had chances in the second half to kill the game and that would have made it different. We suffered a lot because they also had chances.” Madrid and Barca had earlier played out the first ever women’s Clasico after Madrid finally launched their female team this season. Yet Barcelona showed their superiority in a 4-0 rout. But the men’s team have become something of a defensive juggernaut under Zidane after their solidity and resilience formed...

GOVERNOR IKPEAZU FIRES TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER

By: Elvis Joseph Abia State Governor has sacked his  Commissioner of Transport, Ekele Nwaohammuo. This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Government special announcement’ by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, on Sunday.   It added that the Transition Committee Chairmen for Aba North, Victor Ubani; Aba South Cherechi, Wogu and Ibe Local Government Areas, Umunnoechi Mathew were also suspended. The statement read, “The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D. has approved the immediate suspension of the following. “The General Manager of Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State. “The Transition Committee Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area. “The Transition Committee Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area. “The Governor has also relieved the Commissioner of Transport, Barr. Ekele Nwaohammuo of his appointment as Honourable Commissioner. “The Transition Committee Chairman of Umuneochi LGA, Engr. Mathew Ibe has equally ...

PANDEMIC EFFECT: FG TO BORROW $750M LOAN FROM WORLD BANK

As part of efforts to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, says the Federal Government, is in the process of acquiring a 750 million dollar loan, from the world bank to help states recover from the pandemic effects. This loan according to her is to stimulate the local economy and support vulnerable household consumption. Mrs. Ahmed disclosed this at the inauguration of the Federal Steering Committees of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) program, in the nation’s capital. The minister noted that the federal government has created windows of intervention, as captured in the economic sustainability plan inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2020. She stressed that in going to borrow the money the federal government is considering the cause and consequences of civil unrest  “The consequences will be too high if we ignore the root cause of rising civil unrest in our coun...