A new battle is emerging in Borno. It is a ‘war’ being championed by a group of youths . Borno people have labeled this group of young unarmed men hunting for Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri since last weekend “Civilian JTF”. The label was derived from the acronym used to describe the military Joint Task Force (JTF)
deployed to the area and some other parts of the northeast currently threatened by the activities of the militant sect.
The JTF led by its first commander, Maj Gen Jack Nwogbo officially commenced operation in Borno exactly two years ago (early June 2011). Unlike the real JTF, this pro-government vigilante group carry no armored tank or hardware in their new but curious offensive against the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Reports indicate that the courageous young men have arrested more than 30 suspected members of the outlawed insurgent group in one week and handed them over to security forces. Who are these youths and how did they do it? These are questions residents in Maiduguri keep asking as the men move into different parts of the metropolis with only sticks, disused iron rods and machetes.
How it started
The alleged killing of over 13 people including women and children at Hausari Ward on Friday, June 7 evening by suspected Boko Haram insurgents spurred the young men into action. Some Boko Haram insurgents on a revenge mission were said to have stormed the area with their guns carefully hidden in coffins ostensibly to deceive security operatives and residents into believing they were going for burial rites. They turned out to be gunmen as they shot and killed no fewer than 13 people as residents claimed. Some young men in the area as well as Fizzan and Gwange were said to have been assisting the JTF to locate hideouts of the insurgents in the area. This, sources claimed angered the Boko Haram men as they allegedly vowed to deal with the informants. Shortly after the attack, many young men in the area reportedly summoned courage and kicked-off a search for the suspected attackers. Hours later, they were said to have smoked out eight insurgents and handed them over to the JTF. Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa though did not confirm the incident, but he gave indication to this in his reaction. “The JTF commends the full cooperation of residents of Borno state, particularly the ones living in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) for their renewed efforts in supporting the JTF in their current operations. The JTF appreciates the encouragement of residents on the current effort at addressing the security situation in the state”, he said. He added that the task force had to wait till the dawn of last Saturday before arresting two Boko Haram suspects. Five of the insurgents were shot dead while attempting to escape from their Hausari hideouts.
The myth, the reality
This new battle by the youthful vigilante groups in Maiduguri against the Boko Haram was greeted with mixed feeling. This is because not many residents believed that unarmed youths could have the effrontery to dare the dreaded insurgents. “Nobody could have thought some youths could attempt such thing but we have seen they’re succeeding now. You should understand that these youths know the boys very well more than older men like me. They were friends and they grew up together and as such there won’t be any mistake of identity,” a resident of Gwange who did not want his name in print told Us.
Three reporters encountered some of the youths at Shehu Garbai Day Secondary School in the metropolis on Tuesday afternoon. Marching along the road like an army of warriors, they attracted applause and prayers from passers-by and motorists. “This is what we want from the public, just prayers; keep praying for us”, one of them retorted amidst cheers. They said they were hunting for a Boko Haram member that fled home to hide at a building site around the area.
A young man in his early 20s who identified himself as Abubakar Maulum and leader of the group, told reporters their recent move was fueled by the courage displayed by a group of youths at Hausari, a notorius Boko Haram den, last weekend adding he was determined to sacrifice his life to ensure sanity returns to the state.
“We are tired of them and we want to put an end to it. Since soldiers don’t really know who the Boko Haram members are, we who live with them and know them very well resolved we have no option than to help fish them out,” he said. Curiously, the level of courage displayed by these eleven youths did not match the kind of weaponry they were using for their warfare. How do these young men intend to arrest supposedly fearless insurgents with AK 47 and other arms? This is the mystery surrounding the youthful vigilante groups whose activities are generating discourse among residents especially in Maiduguri.
Speculation was rife in the metropolis this week that the youths actually have mystic power which prevents bullets from penetrating their bodies when they encounter a Boko Haram suspect but this theory could not be substantiated and ascertained as at press time. One of the eleven youths, Isa Musa, the most courageous of them who also claimed to be the second in command said their strength and power were derived from God.
Said he “I know but God’s power is stronger. We may not hold guns but we shall surely get these boys (Boko Haram men) because we believe the prayers of the people can assist us to succeed. Just pray for us in this battle because we are ready to lose our lives to save more lives. We are into this to protect our people from the Boko Haram who had killed our people, security operatives and destroyed our economy; we are not afraid of them because we are doing a just cause and God is by our side.” Isa also showed us a fresh bruise on his head, saying he was hit by bullets a day earlier fired by a member of the insurgents whom they had gone to arrest. He said they have arrested many of them.
Stories were told of how the young men have been fortified by some elders who believed in their cause. Sources claimed some youths had gone to arrest a Boko Haram suspect at Gwange Sabon Layi midweek but the suspect proved difficult as he pulled out his gun and fired at them. “When it dawned on him that the bullet did not penetrate, he threw away the gun and attempted to flee but the youths grabbed him and took him to JTF. His mother was even crying, begging people to have mercy on her but the youths never budged,” a source claimed.
Reactions of residents
Many residents described the new battle as a welcome development.”It is a welcome thing. They could have started since so that many lives could have been saved. Nevertheless, their courage has restored confidence in the people and people are now doing their businesses unlike before,” Musa Audu, a resident said but expressed fears about the group that they don’t witch-hunt people or perceived enemies later. He also said “though the youths may not be physically armed, but they have what we called African power.”
An auto mechanic who did not want his name in print described the move as a good development. “At least, it has sent a signal to the Boko Haram that people NO longer fear them because in the past, they tormented residents so much that everybody appeared like unwilling supporters of the sect. It looks like better days are ahead of us”, he said
Authority’s stand
The state government appears to be watching the development from the sidelines as it unfolds. But then, it is not clear whether the youths were connected to the vigilante groups which government was said to be considering to assist the security forces to smoke out the insurgents. Dependable sources at the Maiduguri Government House recently hinted that “government was encouraging the establishment of vigilante to address the worsening insurgency.” Gov Kashim Shettima had earlier said “some of the Hilux vehicles purchased by the government were meant for the activities of the vigilante groups in each of the 27 local governments.”
Also military sources said “the JTF is working hand-in-hand” with the youths. Lt Col Sagir Musa lauded the efforts of the youths, saying they have been co-operating with the JTF in fishing out the Boko Haram men.
Comment with Prayers for these courageous young youths::
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