SAN FRANCISCO, March 28, (THEWILL) – A 17-year-old Boko Haram suspect has revealed how Boko Haram insurgents forced him to kill 18 people since he joined the group three years ago.
The suspect, Ali Mustafa, speaking with reporters, after men of the Borno command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested him, said he was forced to join the deadly group when the insurgents attacked his village in Monguno and left with many boys saying he was held captive for three years.
The teenager, who looked unkempt, said he belonged to the Mamman Nur group of Boko Haram revealing that there were hundreds of young boys like him currently in the bush working for Boko Haram adding that his commander sent him on a spy mission in Maiduguri.
“I was kidnapped in 2013 when the insurgents stormed Marte town, they took us away to Chikungudu forest in Kalabalge local government area,” he said.
“I was held captive for three years at Chikungudu. During those three years, I killed 13 people in separate locations.
“First was at Chikungudu, where we were held hostage. They forced us to kill people, especially when they returned from a mission.
“They said they were testing us and, therefore brought some people and asked me to kill five people. I initially declined but they threatened to kill me, so, I had no option but to kill them.
“The second time was at a village called Burssari, they also brought five people and asked me to kill them, which I did.”
“I spent three years with the insurgents in Chikunguda and Kalabalge. Life for us was indeed terrible. We were trained to dismantle and repair AK 47 rifles.”
He also said more than 500 underage children were initiated as child soldiers.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, said his men arrested the suspect near the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri.
He said the young man had initially denied being a member of Boko Haram.
“But after a thorough interrogation he gave up his denial and confessed to be a Boko Haram member and that he had carried out many execution of innocent persons,” he said.
“The suspect will be handed over to the military for further investigation and profiling.”
