Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, said Boko Haram are found of luring new recruits to join the fold with as little as N5,000.
Zulum made this known in his statewide broadcast to mark this year’s Democracy Day alongside his second anniversary in office.
The governor in his speech lamented the security challenges bedeviling the state.
Revealing part of the modus operandi of the insurgents and how his administration stepped up to the plate, he said, “From day one, we were faced with an acute humanitarian crisis, particularly in northern and some parts of the central senatorial zones. As such, we made it a policy that as governor, I assume the role of chief humanitarian officer for different reasons. “On one hand, it was our duty to deliver help to our fellow citizens that were either internally displaced or taking refuge in neighbouring countries.
“On the other hand, there was the risk that insurgents could, after making IDPs socially and economically vulnerable, also explore that vulnerability by offering food and cash incentives to recruit fighters who could even serve as their spies in communities. From records, we have experienced instances when insurgents offered as low as between 5,000 and 10,000 Naira to recruit some spies and smugglers of weapons. We therefore needed to take steps ahead by making sure we regularly visit IDPs in all parts of Borno, including remote locations, to efficiently and sufficiently deliver food, cash support, and clothing. We needed to ensure that our good citizens had the support they needed, and they were not exposed to potential attractions for the incentives of insurgents.”
