A shocking revelation has been made concerning leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, by a captured fighter of the dreaded sect.
According to Mohammed Adam, a teenage member of the sect who was captured by the Nigerian army, Shekau is crippled and can’t work properly.
The teenager who is currently in custody of troops of 195 battalion of the Nigerian army revealed that Shekau got injured during an air raid on an insurgents’ camp in Tumbuktu, Sambisa forest, which is a Boko Haram stronghold in Borno state.
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Adam further stated that Shekau is seriously injured and can no longer lead an operation physically.
Shekau is known for taunting the military in videos, but has not been seen on his feet lately.
His recent videos has seen him sitting or in some cases, using audio to pass his messages, an unusual approach by the sect leader.
The teenager disclosed he was forcely abducted by the insurgents at the tender age of 10 while working on a farm in Firgi, Gwoza Local glGovernment Area of Borno.
Adam who spent five years in captivity, insists he knows Shekau personally and has participated in several operations under the command of the factional Boko Haram leader.
He also claimed to be among the Boko Haram fighters who escorted the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls to a camp in Tumbuktu. In a bid to confirm his claims of being a fighter, Adam demonstrated combat skills he acquired during training on weapons handling, marksmanship and improvised explosive device (IED) planting.
“I am a well-trained insurgents war front soldier who specialised in weapons handling including AK-47 riffles and GPMG as well as planting IED’s along troops patrol route,” he said in Hausa. We are also given training on other unconventional techniques to inflict heavy casualties on troops.”
Adam claimed he participated in several Boko Haram operations, including elimination of some army engineers in the south of Borno. He said he escaped from one of the camps in Sambisa forest due to hardship and hunger, resulting from cholera outbreak, which left over 500 militants and their families in critical condition.
“I escaped with the intention of being rescued by the troops of the Nigerian army which will in turn afford me the opportunity of fulfilling my dreams of going to school to acquire knowledge,” he said.
He said that other escapees, mostly minors, were in Banki in Bama local government area of the state.The militant group has continued to recruit children who are trained to become field soldiers.
[The Cable]
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