Negotiator Dr. Stephen Davis believes Boko Haram might make a move to establish contact with the world terrorist groups Al Shabaab and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and alleges the insurgents are sponsored by some Nigerian politicians.
Steven Davis. Photo: Yahoo
According to Punch, while Al Shabaab has taken over most of Southern Somalia in 2006, the Iraqi ISIS along with Al-Qaeda is considered the most violent Jihadist group in the world.
Experts continue comparing Boko Haram strategy with the one of the most dreaded international terrorist groups and now Davis, allegedly secretly hired by President Goodluck Jonathan in the past to negotiate on the release of Chibok girls, comments on the sect tactics.
Who is Dr. Stephen Davis?
The 63-year-old Australian expert had acted as a negotiator not only in the Chibok issue, but also as an adviser for Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Yar’Adua. Davis spent 4 intense months in the North-East and his life was subject to extreme danger while he tried to rescue more than 200 school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14. He returned with rare footage of the intense fighting in the region, Yahoo recalls.
Expert about Boko Haram moves and sponsors
With a PhD in political geography and years of experience behind, Davis in a recent interview with Radio Australia explained that the main aim for the Nigerian authorities was now to block Boko Haram funding and find its sponsors, alleging that some banks and politicians are among them. Davis said that many of the insurgency sponsors were in the opposition adding that the President should try to prosecute them, which would be hard though.
Related: Boko Haram Insurgents Relocate From Sambisa
“That makes it easier in some ways as they can be arrested, but of course the onus of proof is high and many are in opposition, so if the President moves against them, he would be accused of trying to rig the elections due early next year. So, I think this (insurgency) will run through to the election unabated. These politicians think that if they win power they can turn these terrorists off, but this has mutated. It’s no longer a case of Muslims purifying by killing off Christians. They are just killing indiscriminately, beheading, disembowelling people – men, women and children and whole villages.”
He added however that the dreaded Nigerian sect is gradually getting out of its sponsors’ control and aims at linking up with the infamous world terrorist groups.
“Terror groups are linking up in Somalia, southern Sudan, Egypt and we have fairly strong evidence they are talking with ISIS members. They will link up with ISIS and Al Shabaab and I think that what we are seeing in that region is the new homeland of radical Islam in the world.”