Jonathan vows to expose Boko Haram sponsors

The Federal Government yesterday said he will soon exposed politicians who are sp0nosring the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the Northern region. The government took this step following the acceptability of a report submitted by the Presidential Committee on Security challenges in the Northeast. The government has been urged by the committee to deport all illegal foreigners, stressing that they have been behind the evil that befall the nation. The report also exposed that ammoniums used by the dreaded Islamist group are being imported into the country through a routes in a Northern state The report also linked the springing up of Boko Haram as the failure of the government to punish the police who allegedly killed their leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. The report submitted by the committee read in parts “The report
traced the origin of private militias in Borno State in particular, of which Boko Haram is an offshoot, to politicians who set them up in the run-up to the 2003 general elections. The militias were allegedly armed and used extensively as political thugs. After the elections and having achieved their primary purpose, the politicians left the militias to their fate since they could not continue funding and keeping them employed. With no visible means of sustenance, some of the militias gravitated towards religious extremism, the type offered by Mohammed Yusuf. “It recommended that the Federal Government should direct the security agencies to beam their search light on some politicians who sponsored, funded and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram and bring them to justice. “Government accepts this recommendation and directs the national Security Adviser to co-ordinate the investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel the individuals and groups that are involved.” “It was reported that members of the sect have transformed themselves into dreaded criminal groups recently and were now known by various pious sounding Islamic names. “The groups, which had hitherto employed the use of crude and locally made arms with few automatic weapons, are now linked to highly sophisticated weaponry and explosives imported or smuggled into the country. “Equally, their modus operandi had drastically changed from mere confrontation with security agents to modern day terrorism with a high precision rate. “Politicians in the country have employed the services of thugs and other groups and associations with large youth membership to intimidate their political opponents during electioneering activities. “The roots of terrorism, especially in Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Bauchi states could be traced to groups or associations, such as ECOMOG, Yan Kalare and Sura Suka which have links to prominent politicians in these states. “However, similar to the militant groups in the Niger Delta area, the groups usually grow out of control and become a threat to the politicians that supported and financed them. “States where sect members thrive should exercise the necessary political will to deal with this problem, notwithstanding the perceived implications to their sponsors. “Government accepts this recommendation and directs the security agencies to work with the state governments to deal with this matter. “The immediate cause of the escalation of the sect’s violent activities is the extra-judicial killing of the sect’s leader and his followers in 2009 and the failure of Police authorities to bring the culprits to justice. The killing of Mohammed Yusuf, which was captured and circulated by video clips, was described as horrific, barbaric and unprofessional. “Although late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua later ordered an inquiry into Police handling of the case, no Government White Paper was issued on the outcome of the enquiry. The Boko Haram sect members believed that their leader and members were unjustifiably killed. “It recommended that the trial of the Police personnel responsible for the extra-judicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf and some of his followers should be expedited and publicised. “Government notes that the late President Yar’Adua did not order any enquiry into this matter, rather he directed the Police to investigate the matter and the result of that investigation had led to the on-going trial of the suspects.”