Auwal-Ismaeel: confessed to taking part in the kidnap of Chibok girls

A repentant Boko Haram member identified as Auwal Ismaeela has confessed to participating in the April, 2014 kidnap of about 300 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, killings of some youths in Madagali, Adamawa State as well as other atrocities.

The ex-Boko Haram chieftain who is now helping the military to uncover the hideouts of other Boko Haram chieftains spoke in an interview with interview with PRNigeria.

In the interview which according to PRNigeria was conducted at a military facility for the repentant and surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-East, the ex-terrorist leader said he regretted the atrocities he was forced to commit against humanity,  as according to him, they run counter to several Islamic injunctions.

Ismaeela therefore encouraged other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the military.

In the interview with PRNigeria, the Commander said: “Myself and Abu Hafsat a Boko Haram commander led other squads to abduct the Chibok girls.

“We led the operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.

“In Madagali which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some high ranking Boko Haram Commander led an operation in 2014 where we killed some students and youths at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.

“In one of the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.

“It is unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions but in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.

“During a battle in Konduga where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not stop fighting for the course. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually surrendered.”

PRNigeria said the former Boko Haram chieftain said he decided to voluntarily surrender to the Nigerian troops after realising the misleading sermons, barbaric indoctrination of the sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of the Boko Haram camps.

He said: “I willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killing and fight. I realised that our people have resort to stealing and all sort of atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.

“Women were being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died every day because of hunger.

“I will continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of our commanders.”

Over 100 Boko Haram members and some commanders had in the recent past surrendered to the military knowing full well that their actions had become inimical to the overall interest and well-being of the nation and the surrounding countries of Cameroun, Niger, and Chad.

Credit: PRNigeria