A Nigerian soldier who is fighting against the insurgents in Borno state has said the Boko Haram war is a political one, not a tribal or religious war and a popular politician from Borno is truly one of their sponsors.
Speaking to Sunday Sun in an interview, the 38-year-old soldier who craved anonymity said the big men in Nigeria are fully aware of what is going and some of them visit the insurgents on Fridays.
According to him, Boko Haram had at one time attacked Gamboru Ngala where the popular politician's father lived. They destroyed more than 200 houses and about 350 civilians but nothing happened to the politician's father who was in his house at that time. Even his house was not affected, the insurgents only broke some glasses in the house and moved 14 vehicles out of the compound.
He said: "There was a man from Adamawa State who told me that he was abducted by Boko Haram as he was returning from Maiduguri with his family. They were camped in Sambisa forest. In that forest, our big men go there on Fridays. Whenever they are coming, they (the captives) would be asked to lie face down. The man said he managed to look up sometimes and the only person he could recognize was that politician."
He explained that everybody in government is corrupt, both the presidency and
"Mr. President is not sincere with the fight because if you give someone money to buy weapon, you should be able to know whether what the person supplied is new or not. But all the things we are using are old weapons that Alhaji Shehu Shagari bought during his time in office. So, when the government asks them to buy weapon, they will go and repaint the old weapons and present them as new ones. And the president will take it like that," he said.
On the corruption in the army, he said the Federal Government budgeted N100,000 monthly for each soldier in Maiduguri, but what they are paying them is N30,000.
He added that the army was being economical with the truth on Boko Haram war, saying soldiers are dying in large numbers on a daily basis.
He explained: "They are not telling you the truth. And you know, Army has their own spokesman and their own pressmen. It is what they tell you that you will take. They hardly tell you that they killed soldiers; and they are killing soldiers every day. The army does not want people to know that they are killing soldiers. And truly they are killing soldiers in Borno."
Asked what Boko Haram fighters look like, the soldier said the insurgents look like soldiers and one cannot differentiate them from the real soldiers.
He added that the insurgents are increasing in number as they capture any young man from 15 years and above and force them into Boko Haram whenever they enter any village and they also have foreigners joining in.
He said the soldiers have the will to fight on but the problem is they lack weapons to fight.
He however said the war against terrorism could be won a lot faster if the government, the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army show more commitment.
"Nigerians can help themselves if the president agrees to bring in modern weapons. I don't feel helpless, it is something we signed," he added.
Meanwhile, following the recent victory of Nigerian military in different encounters with Boko Haram insurgents, Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima has said insurgency will soon be a thing of the past.
President Goodluck Jonathan had also revealed that the menace of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram will end by next month and he guaranteed that things will change.
Speaking to Sunday Sun in an interview, the 38-year-old soldier who craved anonymity said the big men in Nigeria are fully aware of what is going and some of them visit the insurgents on Fridays.
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He said: "There was a man from Adamawa State who told me that he was abducted by Boko Haram as he was returning from Maiduguri with his family. They were camped in Sambisa forest. In that forest, our big men go there on Fridays. Whenever they are coming, they (the captives) would be asked to lie face down. The man said he managed to look up sometimes and the only person he could recognize was that politician."
He explained that everybody in government is corrupt, both the presidency and
national
assembly and even the army."Mr. President is not sincere with the fight because if you give someone money to buy weapon, you should be able to know whether what the person supplied is new or not. But all the things we are using are old weapons that Alhaji Shehu Shagari bought during his time in office. So, when the government asks them to buy weapon, they will go and repaint the old weapons and present them as new ones. And the president will take it like that," he said.
On the corruption in the army, he said the Federal Government budgeted N100,000 monthly for each soldier in Maiduguri, but what they are paying them is N30,000.
He added that the army was being economical with the truth on Boko Haram war, saying soldiers are dying in large numbers on a daily basis.
He explained: "They are not telling you the truth. And you know, Army has their own spokesman and their own pressmen. It is what they tell you that you will take. They hardly tell you that they killed soldiers; and they are killing soldiers every day. The army does not want people to know that they are killing soldiers. And truly they are killing soldiers in Borno."
Asked what Boko Haram fighters look like, the soldier said the insurgents look like soldiers and one cannot differentiate them from the real soldiers.
He added that the insurgents are increasing in number as they capture any young man from 15 years and above and force them into Boko Haram whenever they enter any village and they also have foreigners joining in.
He said the soldiers have the will to fight on but the problem is they lack weapons to fight.
He however said the war against terrorism could be won a lot faster if the government, the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army show more commitment.
"Nigerians can help themselves if the president agrees to bring in modern weapons. I don't feel helpless, it is something we signed," he added.
Meanwhile, following the recent victory of Nigerian military in different encounters with Boko Haram insurgents, Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima has said insurgency will soon be a thing of the past.
President Goodluck Jonathan had also revealed that the menace of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram will end by next month and he guaranteed that things will change.
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