We didn’t kill him –Boko Haram

Posted by admin Latest Politics Monday, September 19th, 2011

Babakura
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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From a leader of Boko Haram, Abu Kaka, came a report yesterday that the group did not kill Babakura Alhaji Fugu, brother-in-law to the slain leader, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf.

Fugu received ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who was on a peace mission to the Yusuf family in Maiduguri, Borno State capital last Thursday. Fuga was killed by gunmen on Saturday. The newspapers (not Daily Sun) reported that the group claimed responsibility.

Kaka, who denied that Fugu was murdered by the Islamist sect, warned the media to be cautious in acting on any release that was not endorsed by him or anyone the sect’s spokesman, Abu Zaid or anybody so delegates, even as Obasanjo condoled with the family of the late Fugu yesterday.

Kaka maintained that the Boko Haram was misrepresented by some media houses, warning journalists to jettison any release or statement from anybody claiming to represent the sect other than its spokesman, Abu Dardam Zaid or any other member appointed to speak on its behalf.
Kaka, who made the position of the sect known in a telephone conversation shortly after some media houses (The Sun not inclusive) reported that the sect had claimed responsibility for the Saturday killing, said rather, they mourned the death of Babakura Fugu.

“We are not happy with the way we were being misquoted and misrepresented in the media especially by the international radio houses. We received with shock the unfortunate killing of the family member of our leader, Sheik Mohammed Yusuf but to our dismay, we later heard that we said we were responsible for it. This is unacceptable because the BBC cannot receive a text message sent to their head office without our name on it and ascribe it to us,” he insisted.

He said, “this kind of false representation has been going on for some time now and we will not continue to tolerate it any longer. The media houses should know that we have an understanding with the Press who we regard as mediators; but if they don’t do their job professionally, we will be compelled to take action on their reporters on ground, just the way we take actions on the security agents and other enemies of Islam.

“Sometimes back, we were misrepresented by the same media that we are going to attack 13 states of the federation, and that was not true. Even if we have any intention of doing something like that it should come from us and not anybody else. We have our own spokesman, in the person of Abu Dardam or whoever he personally delegates to speak on our behalf. And if we issue a statement, it comes with our name and signature.

“So if they don’t desist from such kind of attitude, we want the media houses to know that we know the homes of each journalist, we know their movements; and it is not that they are beyond our reach. A word is enough for the wise,” he warned. Kaka, who spoke generally in Hausa, said media houses and their reporters should disregard any communication purported to have emanated from them unless it was from Abu Dardam or Abu Zaid who are ordained to speak with the media. “Any other communication that is not from these people should be taken as not coming from our leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau,” he added.

An anonymous text message sent to reporters purportedly authored by the sect had claimed that the Boko Haram was responsible for the killing. The text message frowned at Obasanjo’s visit to Maiduguri last Thursday, describing the former president as one of the enemies that killed the Boko Haram leader. It said Obasanjo’s visit added “salt to injury.”

Meanwhile, some elders under the auspices of Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought (BELT) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to pursue the dialogue option with the Islamic group, adding that the sect has indicated its willingness to dialogue with the government should it pursue the move for peace to reign.

“We wish to remind you of our earlier call for the initiation of dialogue with members of Jama’atul Ahlil Sunnah lil Da’awal Wal Jihad ( Boko Haram). Of recent, we have noticed the sustained desire of the sect through media report of their willingness to talk with governments (Federal and state),” a statement made available to journalists yesterday reads.

Signed by elder statesman and former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Shettima Ali Monguno, the group advised the President to initiate the first step of engagement with the sect. It said the move might encourage the sect to talk with the government.

“In view of the nature of their operations which seems to have no known formation, location or leadership, we wish to advise that your government initiate the first step of engagement which might encourage the sect members to come out and talk. We are hopeful that a genuinely set out engagement would attract a meaningful dialogue and resolution of the problem in the common interest of peace, unity and progress of our dear nation,” the elders counseled.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo has appealed to people of goodwill to eschew violence and follow “the path of justice, peace, unity and stability for the progress of Nigeria. In a message of condolence to the family of the slain Fugu, Obasanjo said that he was out of the country when he received the sad news of the killing.

In a statement issued yesterday, Obasanjo said: “Babakura who joined others to receive me in the demolished compound of his late father-in-law, was genuinely working for justice and peace.
“He should not be hated for that, let alone be killed. “My condolence goes to his family,” Obasanjo said in the statement

Obasanjo visited Maiduguri and Jos recently in a bid to find a lasting solution to the spate of violence in parts of the country.“I appeal to all people of goodwill to eschew violence and follow the path of justice, peace, unity and stability for the progress of Nigeria. This is our commitment,” the former President added.

-Sunwp_posts