In this interview, Australian negotiator, who has been
working closely with the leadership of the Boko Haram
sect, pleads with the group to seize the window
provided by the death of Shekau to end the destructive
cycle of insurgency in parts of Nigeria, free captured
Chubok girls and return to normal life. Excerpts:
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?
Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, and Boko
Haram commanders in 2013 after BH reportedly agreed
to dialogue
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.
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