By Kolawole Ojebisi
Some of the repentant Boko Haram terrorists in the custody of troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have been recounting what they experienced while their relationships with insurgent group lasted.
Speaking on his time at the terrorists’ hideout, one of surrendered terrorists said Abubakar Shekau, a factional leader of the sect, told them while in the forests that the Federal Government was insincere and cheated them.
According to a release from MNJTF on Friday, the surrendered terrorist, who expressed his happiness to have severed ties with the killer sect, noted that Shekau is a hypocrite who engages in worse acts than those he condemns.
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In the release by the MNJTF Chief of Public Information, Col Timothy Antigha, 47 Boko Haram fighters surrendered to Sector 1 of the Force with their family members.
Another surrendered terrorist, who spoke under the cover of anonymity, claimed he participated in various operations in Banki, Fotokol, Gamboru Ngala, New Marte, Chikun Gudu, among others.
He said, “They told us that we were being lied to and cheated by apostate governments, but I have not seen any difference between Shekau and those he has been condemning. He may even be worse than them. I am having it a lot better here because since we came out of the bush, we have been fed and catered for.”
Explaining why he sought freedom from the deadly sect, one of the repentant Boko Haram members said even in the sect, discrimination reigned as Shekau employed language shibboleth to select those he put in sensitive positions of authority.
“If you do not speak a particular language, you cannot be appointed a commander or made a guard in the bush. He (Shekau) also said that you couldn’t even be allowed to go for tax collection. This discriminatory attitude made some of us feel that we were not trusted and good enough to be given responsibilities.” he said
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A female member of the group lamented the severe abuse women were subjected to in the camps and prayed that no woman should find herself in the situation she recently escaped from.
The military spokesman, Antigha, said, “The MNJTF renews the call on other misled fighters in the bush to come out. It is important to add that MNJTF troops contributing countries have structures and programmes in place to receive all those who surrender.
“Similarly, the MNJTF urges communities to accept repented terrorists back after their rehabilitation, even though some of them had perpetrated heinous crimes. The MNJTF shares in the understanding that such a gesture by communities will go a long way in the continuing efforts to defeat terrorism and build peace in the Lake Chad Basin.”
