Ex-Boko Haram commanders speak on renewed attacks
Multiple sources, including ex-commanders of the Boko Haram terrorist group, who are among the over 30,000 that reportedly renounced the sect following overtures by government, have revealed to The ICIR why many of the ‘surrenderers’ were going back to the trenches to launch renewed attacks in the troubled region.
The commanders are among the over 400 members of the sect from Borno State who were profiled and engaged by the military to support its counter insurgency operations in the region, following their defection from the terror sect.
After being profiled, they were engaged as hybrid by the military to aid their counter insurgency operations due to their knowledge and understanding of the terrain. Hybrids are surrendered members of the insurgency group who are co-opted by the military to assist in the counter insurgency efforts.
One of the group’s ex-top commanders revealed to The ICIR that many of the surrendered commanders have gone back to the trenches because the Nigerian government has failed to keep to promises made when they surrendered. He listed the promises to include, houses and skills acquisition training.
The ex-commander (names withheld for security reason), who was among the lieutenants of Abubakar Shekau, the late leader of the group, said, “When the Nigerian government came up with the option of surrendering, some of us decided to embrace it so as to assist and reintegrate with our families.
“We felt it was better for us to lay down our arms rather than continue to stay in the bush and spill innocent blood. That was why we heeded the call of government and our family members to surrender.
“We abandoned our belongings and property; including livestock, in Sambisa Forest and were deployed to the theatre formations in the North-East to aid in their operations.”
The commander, who defected three years ago, disclosed that apart from belonging to the hybrid, he has personally participated in persuading other members who also left Sambisa to surrender.
After being profiled, they were engaged as hybrid by the military to aid their counter insurgency operations due to their knowledge and understanding of the terrain. Hybrids are surrendered members of the insurgency group who are co-opted by the military to assist in the counter insurgency efforts.
One of the group’s ex-top commanders revealed to The ICIR that many of the surrendered commanders have gone back to the trenches because the Nigerian government has failed to keep to promises made when they surrendered. He listed the promises to include, houses and skills acquisition training.
The ex-commander (names withheld for security reason), who was among the lieutenants of Abubakar Shekau, the late leader of the group, said, “When the Nigerian government came up with the option of surrendering, some of us decided to embrace it so as to assist and reintegrate with our families.
“We felt it was better for us to lay down our arms rather than continue to stay in the bush and spill innocent blood. That was why we heeded the call of government and our family members to surrender.
“We abandoned our belongings and property; including livestock, in Sambisa Forest and were deployed to the theatre formations in the North-East to aid in their operations.”
The commander, who defected three years ago, disclosed that apart from belonging to the hybrid, he has personally participated in persuading other members who also left Sambisa to surrender.
He said even though he has resisted the temptation to go back to Sambisa, “One of my wives has run back to the forest due to hardship.”
He added, “We submitted ourselves with the willingness to assist the government in ending the insurgency. Due to our constant appeals, many others left Sambisa and surrendered.
“Unfortunately, many commanders were forced to return to Sambisa due to hardship and lack of assistance from the government.
“They were plunged into deep hardship which is why they returned and are currently carrying out attacks,” he said, adding that life in Sambisa was far better than what the repentant terrorists were experiencing outside.
Aside terrorist attacks, we were farming and getting enough to fend for ourselves and families. We had livestock and engaged in businesses that took many of us to several countries, including Dubai,” he said, adding that all that had changed.
Although he did not specify the kind of businesses that took them to Dubai, The ICIR reports that in 2019 six Nigerians were convicted by an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over alleged funding of Boko Haram. Dubai is in the UAE. The families of the convicts had alleged “frame up” claiming they had been doing legitimate bureau de change business in the UAE before their arrest.
Another ex-commander of the group from the ISWAP faction who is also assisting the military in the North-East said he regretted leaving his ‘comfort zone’ in the Sambisa Forest.
The ex-commander, who also sought identity protection for security reasons, said, “Each of us were given only N100,000 cash upon surrendering by the government and promised a house and skill acquisition training, among others.
“But none of these promises has been fulfilled, leaving us in untold hardship which has led to many of the surrenderers returning to Sambisa,” he said
The commander who disclosed that he took part in the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, warned that if the right measures were not taken by government, many more surrendered Boko Haram members who are currently assisting the military would be compelled to go back to Sambisa Forest.
