Boko Haram: Madagali Youths Blame Stakeholders’ Influence on Military for Persistent Insurgency

Youths of Madagali Local Government Area in Adamawa state have ascribed the persistence Boko Haram attacks in their areas to the undue influence exerted by some stakeholders on the military authorities to release some members of the terrorist group who were identified by their victims.

The youth leader, Alhaji Dauda Usman, who spoke on behalf of the youths at the flag-off distribution of relief materials by the Presidential Committee On the North-east Initiative (PCNI) in Gulak town of Madagali LGA yesterday, lamented that if the activities of these stakeholders are not curtailed, the Boko Haram insurgency will continue to persist in the area.

According to him, the insurgents have continued to enjoy cover from prominent personalities because whenever they are identified by their victims and were arrested and handed over to the military after some time they are released and sent back into society.

“You will see them walking freely, we know these people but we are afraid to mention names because they might come after you” he said.

He also revealed that the hunters manning the areas complained that sometimes when they go into the bush they always bring back empty bags used to bring relief materials to Madagali.

He said the development is pathetic and called on all sons and daughters of Madagali and government to come together and fight the insurgency to finish, adding that the insurgents have left the dreaded Sambisa forest and have their enclaves in Madagali.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Madagali, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, appreciated PCNI for the relief materials and promised that distribution would be done judiciously without religious, political or tribal sentiments.

Yusuf said the relief materials would go a long way to cushion the hardship faced by the citizens due to the persistence of insecurity challenges that had disallowed his people from farming for more than three years now.