Many Boko Haram Insurgents Tired of Carrying Arms, Says Mama Boko Haram

• Promises involvement in negotiation until last abducted girl is freed

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Many of the Boko Haram insurgents are tired of carrying arms against the nation and are willing to come out and embrace peace, Barrister Aisha Wakil revealed saturday.

Speaking in Maiduguri at the unveiling of the ultra-modern field office of her Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Complete Care and Aid Foundation, and fund raising for N500 million North-east humanitarian intervention, Wakil also said she won’t be tired of negotiation for the release of the abducted girls until the last of the girls is released.

She told journalists that no one likes the life of fugitives, always running from being caught by agents of government and added that the insurgents, after about a decade of living in isolation, would like to be reunited back with the society.

Wakil, popularly called Mama Boko Haram, said “the insurgents are still in armed struggle against Nigeria because they do not yet trust the amnesty plan of the federal government.”

Wakil, who is believed to be part of the negotiation of many of the abducted Chibok girls and recently the Dapchi schoolgirls, said she does not feel bad being called Mama Boko Haram, as the name only shows that she is one of the few that the insurgency group listen to. She said: “I am not called Mama Boko Haram because I sponsored insurgency but rather because the group listens to me and respect me. So I do not feel ashamed with the name because I am only playing a role that will ensure that the society does not completely degenerate.”

She said she decided to take a step further by establishing an NGO to make the society to be healed from its illnesses and get back on track.

Wakil said: “So far, with the little funds generated from messengers of peace and other well-wishers name withheld, we distributed food items to more than 500,000 displaced persons, and we also assisted women with medical needs. Education is also not left behind.

“I also constructed a multi-million Naira complex for humanitarian activities. Our target is to sponsor our displaced youth for skills acquisition, exchange programme of education, nutrition and to care more for widows in Borno State and its environs.”

She said with the anticipated success of the N500 million fundraising, more interventions would be done for victims of insurgency.

Personalities at the programme included the Emir of Kano, who was represented by the Dukajin Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu, among other prominent citizens.