A member of the Boko Haram sect, who was arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State, made a shocking revelation to the people of Ngomari ward “Bakin Borehole” in Maiduguri, that he had killed 23 people in two days, including slaughtering a village head and police officers in the area.
The member, who was arrested on Tuesday evening, was said to have relocated about a year ago and rented a one-room apartment, living as an innocent citizen in search of safe haven in the state capital.
A resident of Ngomari, who pleaded anonymity, told this correspondent on Wednesday that the sect member was arrested wearing a Jeans trouser and a vest when he went out to fetch water.
According to the resident, the sect member was arrested by “Civilian JTF,” adding that his arrest was made possible when the vigilance youth arrested his younger brother who, in turn, took them to Ngomari, where his brother was living.
“We were shocked when we heard that Civilian JTF came and arrested a sect member in our area.
“We have never imagined we could have somebody like that in our area, because we have been living peacefully.
“We were the most shocked when the sect member confessed that he killed 23 people in two days. That is horrible and unimaginable, but a reality,” he said.
Meanwhile, the “Civilian JTF” was seen on Wednesday in front of the house of one of the politicians in Maiduguri at about 7.15 a.m, barely 24 hours after it was reported that the youth group went hunting for the politician for allegedly sponsoring terrorism in the state.
In another development, some members of the dreaded sect have promised the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North to collaborate with the government to put an end to the continued bloodletting.
During a visit of the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North to a detention site in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, over 50 detained members of the sect said if they were given a chance, they would assist authorities to end the crisis.
One of the detainees, Adam Konto, introduced himself to the chairman of the committee, Kabir Taminu Turaki, as the commander of the Bayan quarter, adding that they were ready not to pick up arms against the nation again.
“Most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given dastardly acts to do without our full understanding of what we were doing,” he said.
Another detainee, who identified himself as Babagana Saje, while also expressing his readiness to denounce the sect, said the police should be commended for keeping them alive.