By Daniel Fayemi

The successful invasion and capturing of Mubi, the commercial nerve centre and second largest town in Adamawa state as well as neighbouring towns and villages, by the deadly terror group, Boko Haram in 2014 was neither accidental nor a fluke achievement. It was as a result of carefully orchestrated plans which exposed the vulnerability of many Nigerian youths to vices of different shades, Greennews.ng can confirm.

Although the actual invasion took place on October 29, 2014, the foundations for the carnage were laid as early as 2013. Information gathered by the Greennews.ng team on a fact-finding trip to Boko Haram most ravaged towns in Adamawa state revealed that thousands of youths were recruited with a simple strategy that exploited the basic needs of the pliable, unsuspecting young Nigerians.

Unemployment, Poverty Bane Of Nigerian Youths

In late 2013, a youth empowerment form was widely circulated in Mubi and other neighboring towns. The form requested that interested applicants should declare their full bio data, i.e full name, age, address, phone number and other personal details. The form also required each applicant to indicate how much they would need to start a business so that funds could be released to them in form of grants. Expectedly, youths trooped out to fill the forms in their thousands and submitted them without knowing exactly who their benefactor was.

By February 2014, the ‘charitable’ empowerment agents (Boko Haram) returned with bags of cash and started disbursing monies to the youths who applied. Greennews.ng learnt that each person was paid between N200,000 and 1 million naira, depending on what business they wanted to go into. That was how they were empowered without being asked for anything in return. They got free monies and pocketed it, thanking their stars.

Payback Time, With Blood And More

Months after disbursing free monies to Mubi youths, the Boko Haram men returned for their beneficiaries. Having documented their bio data, the Boko Haram started calling people to join them as payback for the money they gave out. They were calling them based on those forms they filled.

Greennews.ng spoke with one of such victims who did not want his name in print. “In mid 2014, they came in strategically. A lot of them were not even Nigerians because of the way they looked. They were probably from Chad. Their hair, colours did not look Nigerian. When they came back for us, some went with them willingly, but a lot of us did not follow them willingly but we reluctantly did because we had used the money they gave us. I got 250,000 from them. God knows I was not aware that they were Boko Haram people when they were giving us money.”

It was further learnt that a lot of youths joined them so they would never have to pay back the money. However, a lot of them were slaughtered when they refused to join the terrorist group. Nevertheless, Boko Haram was able to recruit thousands from Mubi alone by offering them financial freedom. The irony was that they gave up their freedom the moment they got the monies.

Boko Haram Spent Billions Of Naira On Recruitment Alone

A quick estimation of the monies Boko Haram invested on the recruitment scheme by the Greennews.ng team indicates that Boko Haram spent billions of naira on recruitment alone. In Mubi, it was speculated that about 4,000 youths partook in the empowerment scheme. If this figure was added to those recruited from other neighboring towns of Gombi, Madagali, Hong, Mararaba, Kala and Gwoza, it would be safe to speculate that at least 10,000 youths were empowered with an average of N400,000 per person, suggesting that not less than N4 billion was spent. This proves that Boko Haram’s money was not in short supply.

Negligence of traditional rulers, local governments

The negligence of the traditional rulers in these communities and local government Chairmen that were supposed to be closer to the masses cannot be overlooked. It leaves much to be desired that such a scheme of gargantuan ramifications escaped the radar of these institutions, truth be told. This seemingly simple negligence led to the untimely deaths of hundreds, including women and babies, not to mention the loss of valuable properties.

http://greennews.ng/how-boko-haram-recruited-nigerian-youths-for-africas-biggest-terrorist-invasion/

Dat's wat happens wen a group takes over the responsibility of govt. If the monies spend on dis war had been use to empowered the youth, all dis wahala would had been averted and our economy would had been much more stronger.

The northern oligarchs are the major sponsors of book haram. Their toy soilders have gone out of their hands and they are now the real Terrorist

Have you been sleeping ? Every state gets their allocation complete, But the Ogas at the top have chopped it , if BH attacks politicians , i wouldn't hate them, but innocent populace ? that's misplaced Priority

Sunnymatey:
Dat's wat happens wen a group takes over the responsibility of govt. If the monies spend on dis war had been use to empowered the youth, all dis wahala would had been averted and our economy would had been much more stronger.

1996 Tupac said , they've got money for wars but can't feed the poor , even the $2.1Billion self, the goats ate the yams

Your life is worthless but war is Expensive.- Immortal Technique