Nigeria’s
terror outfit, Boko Haram, is said to have commenced the recruitment of women
for the movement of arms and ammunition in the North Eastern geo-political
zone.
terror outfit, Boko Haram, is said to have commenced the recruitment of women
for the movement of arms and ammunition in the North Eastern geo-political
zone.
It was learnt that the leadership of
the JTF had informed operatives of the special task force during a briefing in
Maiduguri, that the sect was recruiting women into its fold as couriers.
the JTF had informed operatives of the special task force during a briefing in
Maiduguri, that the sect was recruiting women into its fold as couriers.
An officer of the JTF, who
pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on Friday, that the group also
planned to use women to get the addresses and locations of some prominent
politicians and businessmen considered to be enemies of the sect.
pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on Friday, that the group also
planned to use women to get the addresses and locations of some prominent
politicians and businessmen considered to be enemies of the sect.
Prior to the revelation that the sect
was recruiting women for intelligence gathering and operational information,
women were often ignored during searches by JTF operatives.
was recruiting women for intelligence gathering and operational information,
women were often ignored during searches by JTF operatives.
Operatives of the JTF who had
initially avoided the screening of women in order to avoid whipping up
religious sentiments had since embarked on the screening of women.
initially avoided the screening of women in order to avoid whipping up
religious sentiments had since embarked on the screening of women.
The source said, “Boko Haram now
recruits women to help them carry their arms and ammunition.
recruits women to help them carry their arms and ammunition.
“Before now, JTF operatives
don’t search women here. If you see three women and two men in a car, only the
men are asked to come down and frisked. You don’t do that to women; the women
were hardly searched.
don’t search women here. If you see three women and two men in a car, only the
men are asked to come down and frisked. You don’t do that to women; the women
were hardly searched.
“But we got the
information that they want to use women to get information they need for
launching their attacks; they want to use them to lure prominent politicians
and people that are not supporting them and kill them.”
information that they want to use women to get information they need for
launching their attacks; they want to use them to lure prominent politicians
and people that are not supporting them and kill them.”
Source added that the sect also
planned to use women to monitor locations of JTF operatives in order to
carry out sudden attacks.
planned to use women to monitor locations of JTF operatives in order to
carry out sudden attacks.
“But since we got that information,
our operatives have started searching everybody. If operatives find three men
and a woman in a car, all of them are asked to come down for searches to be
conducted unlike before. It is not being done to hurt or molest anybody,” he
added.
our operatives have started searching everybody. If operatives find three men
and a woman in a car, all of them are asked to come down for searches to be
conducted unlike before. It is not being done to hurt or molest anybody,” he
added.
The reported moves to co-opt women
into the sect’s activities is coming on the heels of an offer for ceasefire by
Boko Haram last week.
into the sect’s activities is coming on the heels of an offer for ceasefire by
Boko Haram last week.
While reacting to the offer for
ceasefire by the sect, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, said
the Federal Government could only take the sect seriously if after one-month
ceasefire, there is no violence in the North.
ceasefire by the sect, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, said
the Federal Government could only take the sect seriously if after one-month
ceasefire, there is no violence in the North.
Ibrahim said, “You see, we must treat
with a lot of caution.
with a lot of caution.
Meanwhile, the JTF has apprehended
some suspected terrorists who fled Mali for Borno State.
some suspected terrorists who fled Mali for Borno State.
It was learnt that the terror suspects
were being held at the headquarters of the JTF in Maiduguri.
were being held at the headquarters of the JTF in Maiduguri.
However, the Director of Defence
Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima, said he was not aware of the arrests and
referred our correspondent to the Spokesman of the JTF, Sagir Musa.
Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima, said he was not aware of the arrests and
referred our correspondent to the Spokesman of the JTF, Sagir Musa.
When one SUNDAY PUNCH contacted
Musa, he said he was not aware of it and promised to brief our correspondent on
the development later.
Musa, he said he was not aware of it and promised to brief our correspondent on
the development later.
Source:
Punch
Punch
