Two Boko Haram factions indicate they are willing to join forces with government against Shekau

TWO Boko Haram leaders have indicated that they are ready for talks with the federal government because they are tired of the fighting and endless killing and want to join forces to defeat well known warlord Sheikh Abubakar Shekau.

Abdulkadir Abubakar, also known as Abu Muhammad, was the chief intelligence officer of Boko Haram and one of its top commanders, until his arrest in June by the military in Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government area of Yobe State. In his cell in Maiduguri, Abubakar revealed that the Albarnawi and Mamman Nur factions of Boko Haram were willing to dialogue and cooperate with the government to defeat the most visible leader of the group, Sheikh Shekau.

Abubakar revealed deep divisions and power struggle among the insurgents, claiming the Albarnawi and Mamman Nur factions were opposed to Shekau’s leadership style and bloodthirstiness. According to him, Sheikh Shekau, whose capture, dead or alive, the Nigerian military high command has ordered, has been the major obstacle to peace, since the insurgency began in 2009.

“Shekau is not willing to surrender due to his high handedness. Unfortunately, the government and military authorities accorded priority to dealing with Shekau, who is blood thirsty.

"Albarnawi has indicated an interest to dialogue with the government to end insurgency and provide a lasting solution to the crisis. Albarnawi discusses this with members of his circle and I can assure the government that the two factions are willing to cooperate with Nigerian government to defeat Shekau,”  Abubakar added.

His claim about the readiness of the factions to dialogue with the Nigerian authorities could not be verified as he had been incarcerated since June. However, Abubakar insisted that the groups are predisposed to a peaceful resolution of the eight year-old crisis.

Among other things, Abubakar claimed to have undertaken various espionage missions and provided intelligence to the insurgents, which enabled them to hit a long list of targets, among which were the abduction of 275 students at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok and the massacre of students at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi. He also claimed to have been involved in other attacks on schools in Maiduguri, Damaturu, Postikum and Mamudo.

He added that Sheikh Shekau has left his enclave in Sambisa Forest and moved deep into Mandara Mountain. Abubakar said he knows the area where Shekau is hiding and is willing to provide a guide to the military.

“After annexing vast territories, Shekau began to demonstrate his cruelty and atrocities against humanity. In view of the high level atrocities committed by the group, some of the top commanders including myself, Albarnawi and Mamman Nur challenged Shekau, demanding an immediate end to the ugly saga.