Australian negotiator, Davis, who has been
a middleman between the leadership of the
Boko Haram sect and FG, has pleaded with
the group to see the death of their leader as
an avenue to put an end to their operations
in Nigeria.
In the interview, he made it known that
none of the people mentioned as Boko
Haram sponsors were in anyway
corroborated by any political party and
that no political party has also been
pointed at by Boko Haram to be a fueling
source for the group.
Below are excerpts from the Punch
interview:
A senior member of the European
Parliament, Franz Obermayr, alleged
that the opposition party in Nigeria
could be sponsoring Boko Haram by
channeling European Parliament
financial aid to Boko Haram in the
North East of Nigeria. Do you have
any such evidence?
I have never heard any political party
mentioned by any Boko Haram leader
as funding or being associated with
Boko Haram.
The Boko Haram commanders have
only mentioned individuals like
former Governor Sheriff. I heard
Sheriff was APC and now PDP but that
is irrelevant to me.
I have never mentioned political
parties in my discussions with Boko
Haram. The names of individual
sponsors were given by Boko Haram
leaders, not their political party
association.
What sort of sponsorship has been
mentioned by Boko Haram that they
have received?
Former governor Sheriff was
specifically mentioned many times.
Specifically for example, Sheriff was
mentioned as sponsoring trips of the
boys to the Lesser Hajj. There, the
boys are “reorientated”.
In effect they are recruited to Boko
Haram. When they return to Nigeria
the recruits are then taken off for
further reorientation by which they
mean teaching and for training. Some
of the training took place in Mali by
Tuareg leaders but now more training
is conducted locally.
Could mere funding for Lesser Hajj by
the assumed sponsors have manifested
in the high level of sophistication that
the sect has assumed today?
Funds are provided to purchase
weapons. This is sometimes
transferred through the Central Bank
of Nigeria to a person in Cairo who
provides the weapons and also
provides military uniforms.
At other times vehicles are purchased
in Benin for example and driven into
Nigeria where they are sold for cash.
They do not mind taking a loss on the
sale price as by this method they can
obtain cash in Nigeria without a
direct link to the sponsor.
This person in Cairo, is he an
Egyptian? Why are you not able to
disclose his identity to the security
agents for necessary action?
No, he is Nigerian. He is a Kanuri who
has fought with Boko Haram and now
associates with a network of jihadists.
I have given all his details to the DG-
SSS.
What sort of vehicles do they
purchase?
VW Golf was mentioned as a
favourite. They can sell these very
easily in Nigeria. They do keep some
to use for suicide bombing. Some time
ago they told me one sponsor pledged
six Hilux vehicles for the suicide
bombers.
You have heard that a “fake” Shekau
was killed last week in Kondunga. Do
you believe what the military is
claiming that the man killed was
Shekau or possibly a “fake” Shekau?
I continue to believe that Shekau was
killed on or about June 19, 2013 when
we were deeply engaged in peace
discussions. I have had so many
senior commanders tell me that
Shekau is dead. It was several weeks
after that a Shekau video appeared on
YouTube. When I viewed that video
with JAS leaders they immediately
said, “That boy.
We have used him before.” They were
totally dismissive of any claim that
Shekau was still alive. They referred
to the person in the video as the “fake
Shekau”. Some months later one of
the senior commanders told me the
name of the fake Shekau was Abdul
Mutallif. The commander who named
him was the one who wrote the script
that the fake Shekau reads from in the
videos.
But I have heard they have used more
than one fake Shekau. In July this
year I was told the fake Shekau is Isa
Damasaka. Earlier in June they
referred to him as Bashir.
We had been in communication with
him over the release of the Chibok
girls. Isa Damasaka is one of the
names the military has released when
identifying the man killed at
Kondunga last week. He has also been
identified as Bashir Mohammed so I
am confident this man is indeed the
fake Shekau.
However, I do not know if Abdul
Mutallif is another name he used or
there is another fake Shekau named
Abdul Mutallif who may still be alive.
I have no doubt we will know soon so
we await a new video by another fake
Shekau.
The man who was captured at
Kondunga last week was a great
source of information about Boko
Haram sponsors. He was captured
alive. The military are too quick to
execute captured Boko Haram leaders.
This man could have revealed so
much about Boko Haram and its
sponsors that may have brought a
quick end to the terrorism.
There are some reports that many
Boko Haram fighters have surrendered
in recent days. You want to say
something on this?
This is an indication that Boko Haram
commanders now understand that
they have been fooled. They have
followed a “fake” Shekau. Boko Haram
fighters have died following a fake
Shekau and fake teaching.
The political sponsors have led these
boys to believe that they are purifying
Islam, purging the country of
corruption by slaughtering people. In
fact the political sponsors of Boko
Haram are corrupt politicians seeking
power and more wealth. The sponsors
epitomise all that the Boko Haram
fighters are seeking to eliminate from
Nigeria.
So what is next for Boko Haram?
The death of the fake Shekau shows
how the fighters have been duped and
totally misled by the sponsors.
The fighters and commanders would
be wise to take this opportunity to
reach out to the government for a
peace dialogue.
If they do not believe they can have a
peace dialogue without being captured
and executed the alternative message I
have for the commanders is this: Your
sponsors will use you and sacrifice
you so they can gain power. Set the
captive girls free and walk away from
Boko Haram while you still have the
opportunity.

Hmmm. We are watching

tinuolababy: Hmmm. We are watching

Abi Naw

whyse: Abi Naw

I know and believe this boko haram issue wl b a thing of the past very soon