Boko Haram paid us N5,000 each to burnschools

Some kid suspects released by military
authorities in Maiduguri on Friday said
the Boko Haram sect paid them N5,000 each
to burn primary schools and spy on
soldiers.
They were among 23 women and 35 children
released to the governors of Borno and
Yobe states by the Commander, 21 Armoured
Brigade, Maiduguri, Brig-Gen. R.O
Bamigboye, on behalf of the Chief of
Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim.
The children, whose ages range between
nine and 15 years, said they were given
kegs of petrol by Boko Haram leaders and
sent to burn schools in both states.
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima,
government officials and journalists
listened in bewilderment as the children
narrated how they were used by the
extremist sect to burn schools and spy on
soldiers.
One of them said they were taken to the
Yobe State capital, Damaturu, and told to
spy on soldiers attached to the Joint Task
Force and report back to the Boko Haram
commanders.
He said, “We were taken to Damaturu. We
watched out for the soldiers at their unit
and reported back to them. We were
reporting either when soldiers were at
ease or enjoying themselves and when they
were off guard and we were paid for doing
that.”
Another child suspect said, “I usually
helped Boko Haram to leak information on
military activities so that they could
attack them (soldiers). My last job was to
travel from Maiduguri to Gashua to spy on
soldiers before I was caught.”
Yet another said, “We usually help Boko
Haram to carry stolen items each time and
sometimes help them to give information
about people they want to attack and
sometimes even help to hide their guns
after attacks. They pay us N5000 after
every operation. I regret what I did, I
want to go home and ask for forgiveness
from my father and mother for what I did;
I also want to go to school.”
One of the boys said he was arrested last
year after he was overheard talking about
the people who burnt a school in Maiduguri
and failed to inform the military.
“I was arrested because I know those who
burnt the school without telling the
soldiers. Some people heard me discussing
about the people who burnt the school and
reported me to the soldiers who arrested
me,” he said.
One of the teenagers said they were paid
N5,000 and provided with fuel in kegs to
set schools ablaze in Maiduguri.
The release of the suspects was done in
line with the Federal Government’s amnesty
deal.
In Borno State, 20 detainees, comprising
six women and 14 children arrested between
2012 and 2013 were set free and handed
over to Shettima for rehabilitation and
reintegration.
The 20 detainees were mostly arrested in
Maiduguri, Bama in Borno and Damaturu in
Yobe State.
Bamigboye, who supervised the handing
over, said he was acting on behalf of the
Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad
Ibrahim.
This, he said, was in line with the
directive of President Goodluck Jonathan
to the army.
He explained that the detainees were
arrested in connection with the roles they
played in the insurgency.
The six freed women were Hajia Zainab
Mohammed, 40; Hajia Karagama Mohammed, 55;
Hajia Zari Mohammed, 40; Aishatu Mohammed
Aji, 62; Hadiza Ahmad, 40; and Yakaka Goni
Habib, 16.
The 14 children released were Abba Modu
Aji,10; Mohammed Musa, 12; Ibrahim
Mohammed, 15; Umar Bukar, 15; Mustapha
Umaru, 14; Bashir Ali, 12; Musa Grema, 13;
Abba Mohammed, 14; Baba Alhaji, 13;
AbdulAziz Umar, 14; Ari Masa’a, 14; Bayi
Mustapha, 14; Mohammed Ibrahim, 14 and
Alhaji Goni, 14.