A member of
the Boko Haram, identified as a commander in the terror group, has confessed to
leading the operation to kidnap the Chibok girls in 2014.
The
‘commander’, identified as Auwal Ismaeela, confessed to the act in an interview
with PRNigeria, a news agency.
Over 200
girls were kidnapped by the sect from their school dormitory in Chibok, Borno
State in April 2014. About 100 of them still remain with the terror group after
majority of the remainder were released in talks with the federal government.
Mr. Ismaeela,
who has surrendered to the Nigerian military, also told the news agency that he
led other major operations and said he regretted his actions.
Read the
statement by PRNigeria on its interview with Mr. Ismaeela below.
Ahead of the
Islamic Festival of Eid-Kabir coming up by the weekend, a top Boko Haram
commander who played a major role in the abduction of Chibok Girls and killing
of youths in Madagali has surrendered and confessed to several acts of
bloodletting on innocent people and destruction of properties across the length
and breadth of the North-eastern part of the country.
In an
interview with PRNigeria at a military facility for the repentant and
surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-east, the ex-terrorist leader said
he regretted the atrocities he was forced to commit against humanity.
The
commander, Auwal Ismaeela, is currently cooperating with the Nigerian military
with useful information on locations and hideouts of other top commanders of
the deadly sect. He regretted his actions which according to him, run counter
to several Islamic injunctions.
Mr. Ismaeela
encouraged other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the
military.
“My self and
Abu Hafsat, a Boko Haram commander, led other squads to abduct the Chibok
girls.
“We led the
operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso,
Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.
“In Madagali
which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some
high-ranking Boko Haram Commander led an operation in 2014 where we killed some
students and youth at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.
“In one of
the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in
Sambisa Forest.
“It is
unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions but
in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my
actions.
“During a
battle in Konduga where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the
operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did
not stop fighting for the course. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given
a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually
surrendered.”
He gave
several reasons for his decision to voluntarily surrender to the Nigerian
troops after realising the misleading sermons, barbaric indoctrination of the
sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of the Boko Haram camps.
He said: “I
willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless
killing and fight. I realised that our people have resort to stealing and all
sort of atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.
“Women were
being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as
the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people
died every day because of hunger.
“I will
continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful
information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of
our commanders.”
Meanwhile,
more than One hundred (100) Boko Haram members and some commanders had in the
recent past surrendered to the military knowing full well that their actions
had become inimical to the overall interest and well-being of the nation and
the surrounding countries of Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
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