Our pact with northern governors

The reason for Kano and Bauchi states attacks a few days ago were hinged on failed promises by the State governors of the two states. The entire northern governors, according to the Boko Haram source, have ongoing relationships with the group. "Most of them pay us monthly to leave their states alone."

In Kano State, a former state governor, reached an agreement with the terrorist group in late 2004 for an initial monthly disbursement of N5million, which was later bumped up to N10million in 2009. The agreement, according to the source, included provision of institutional infrastructural support through the Hisbah (Islam police) project which received yearly budgetary allocation of N1.01billion. The gubernatorial election of April 2011 which introduced Rabiu Kwankwaso as the new governor changed the agreement.

The Kwankwaso administration was quick to dismantle the Hisbah set up - and the said agreement to disburse N10million monthly. The governor proceeded to make arrests of known Boko Haram members. Boko Haram leadership who had found comfort in Kano did not appreciate the Kwankwaso administration's policy on Boko Haram. According to the source, "we warned the Governor of the consequences.

"We concluded on Kano in December 2011." The abrupt end to the oil subsidy strike and protests served an opportunity for the group to strike. The preparatory work for the attack and the selection of targets had already been completed.

According to the source, an estimated number of casualties was calculated to net 300 minimum. "The go ahead order" was given on Wednesday (January 18, 2012) evening before the leader of the group left the country for Cameroon on the early morning of Thursday, the following day.

In Bauchi State, a similar agreement was allegedly reached with the leadership of the group. A monthly disbursement of N10million was agreed upon along with provision of training grounds on the many mountains scattered in Bauchi State. There was also alleged promise of security against arrests by the Federal Government. The agreement was reached in June 2008 but mid 2011, the governor stopped the disbursement of the N10 million regularly. Boko Haram were not happy but remained loyal to the agreement because of the unfettered access to the mountains of Bauchi as training camps.

However, the arrest and detention of their number three man by the State Security Services (SSS) fractured the relationship between the governor and the terrorist group. The source said the State was attacked to free the number three leader of Boko Haram and to "teach them a lesson." The detained leader schooled at the prestigious Lincoln University located in the State of Connecticut, USA and owns a block industry in Bauchi State near the home of the former governor of Bauchi State - an area densely populated by Boko Haram operatives.

According to the source, "the northern governors are overwhelmed." They are aware of capabilities of the Boko Haram operatives in their respective states. Some of the State government officials visit the terrorist groups in their training camps to watch the training exercises. "We train harder than the Nigerian military and they see it" said the source while 'lamenting' that the governor continues to tell the President that the menace of Boko Haram is under control.

The Boko Haram source made it emphatic that "we (they) have the weapons and are in control. We are not asking for Islamic Nigeria. We want our men free".


SOURCE; http://allafrica.com/stories/201201241278.html

What is revealing about this?

we now know the sponsors, buddy.