Dozens of suspected Boko Haram militants in
Magumeri forest, Borno, have turned to human
eaters after being stranded for days without
food or water. Magumeri forest is about 150 kilometres from
Maiduguri, the state capital. Mallam Momodu Bukar, a suspected militant,
told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that he
fled the camp at the forest on Thursday when
it became obvious that he was going to be
eaten. “I thank God that I escaped because I would
have been slaughtered by now to provide meal
for my colleagues at the camp,” Bukar said. The suspected militant was captured by a
Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as the
civilian JTF at Baga Road motor park, Maiduguri,
on Friday.. He said the militants had been in the forest
since May, when they were dislodged from
Marte, Marte Local Government Area, by the
Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore
Order (ORO) after the declaration of the State
of Emergency. “Our group, consisting of about 300 well armed
combatants, headed for Magumeri on the
orders of the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau,
shortly before the military took over Marte
Camp. “We have been wandering in the forest. We
have exhausted our food and water supply, and
so, everybody became hungry,” Bukar said. He also said that they lost contact with Shekau
due to the closure of GSM services by the
Defence Headquarters. “It all started last Monday when three of the
combatants in camp died of acute hunger, and
it became obvious that all of us will die if action
was not taken. “The leader of the group, Abu Omar, directed
that a non combatant member be slaughtered
to provide meal for the rest. “The meat provided meal for the combatant for
just two days and another person was killed in
the same manner on Wednesday. “So, it became certain that I might be the next
person since I am also a non combatant
member.” Bukar said he escaped after volunteering to
help search for drinking water for the group in
a nearby village. “I left the camp on Thursday evening after
agreeing to fetch water from the village. “After leaving the camp, I started running until I
arrived at Magumeri town, so, I slept in the
motor park before boarding a vehicle to
Maiduguri with the little money on me.” he said. Bukar said that he was apprehended
immediately he arrived at the motor park in
Maiduguri by the youth vigilante group. Commenting, an official of the vigilante group,
Mallam Ajid Asheik, said the suspect would be
handed to the Joint Task Force (JTF) on
Operation Restore Order (ORO) for
investigation.(NAN)
Magumeri forest, Borno, have turned to human
eaters after being stranded for days without
food or water. Magumeri forest is about 150 kilometres from
Maiduguri, the state capital. Mallam Momodu Bukar, a suspected militant,
told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that he
fled the camp at the forest on Thursday when
it became obvious that he was going to be
eaten. “I thank God that I escaped because I would
have been slaughtered by now to provide meal
for my colleagues at the camp,” Bukar said. The suspected militant was captured by a
Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as the
civilian JTF at Baga Road motor park, Maiduguri,
on Friday.. He said the militants had been in the forest
since May, when they were dislodged from
Marte, Marte Local Government Area, by the
Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore
Order (ORO) after the declaration of the State
of Emergency. “Our group, consisting of about 300 well armed
combatants, headed for Magumeri on the
orders of the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau,
shortly before the military took over Marte
Camp. “We have been wandering in the forest. We
have exhausted our food and water supply, and
so, everybody became hungry,” Bukar said. He also said that they lost contact with Shekau
due to the closure of GSM services by the
Defence Headquarters. “It all started last Monday when three of the
combatants in camp died of acute hunger, and
it became obvious that all of us will die if action
was not taken. “The leader of the group, Abu Omar, directed
that a non combatant member be slaughtered
to provide meal for the rest. “The meat provided meal for the combatant for
just two days and another person was killed in
the same manner on Wednesday. “So, it became certain that I might be the next
person since I am also a non combatant
member.” Bukar said he escaped after volunteering to
help search for drinking water for the group in
a nearby village. “I left the camp on Thursday evening after
agreeing to fetch water from the village. “After leaving the camp, I started running until I
arrived at Magumeri town, so, I slept in the
motor park before boarding a vehicle to
Maiduguri with the little money on me.” he said. Bukar said that he was apprehended
immediately he arrived at the motor park in
Maiduguri by the youth vigilante group. Commenting, an official of the vigilante group,
Mallam Ajid Asheik, said the suspect would be
handed to the Joint Task Force (JTF) on
Operation Restore Order (ORO) for
investigation.(NAN)
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