Tragedy: Gunmen kill Fugu after meeting with Obasango

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Borno, Latest Politics, Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-79, 99-07), Presidency, State News Sunday, September 18th, 2011

Less than three days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo left Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Alhaji Babakura Alhaji Fugu, the eldest son of in-law to the late Boko Haram leader, Mallam Mohammed Yussuf, was shot dead on Saturday.

Obasanjo had gone to condole with the family of the late leader of Boko Haram sect, Yusuf, who was extrajudicially murdered during the July 2009 uprising.

Alhaji Babakura Alhaji Fugu, 48, received former President Obasanjo on behalf of the family.

Sunday Tribune learnt that gunmen came in a Volkwagen Golf car and asked of the deceased and as soon as they were able to identify him, opened fire on him and disappeared.

This new killing occured despite reports that the demands of the sect were, again, presented before the former president when he met representatives of the family last Thursday.

Among the demands reportedly tabled before Obasanjo was that the government tender unreserved apology to the family of Yusuf and that of Baba Fugu over the killing of their members.

Boko Haram was also said to have demanded compensation for the losses it has suffered as well as trial of killers of Yusuf.

These are in addition to the demand for the release of members of the sect who are in detention.

It would be recalled that the late Alhaji Fugu, who received former President Obasanjo at the family house of the late Alhaji Baba Fugu (the slain Boko Haram leader’s in-law), told journalists on Friday that, President Obasanjo, on arrival at the family house, informed the family members that he was in their home to condole and commiserate with them over what had happened.

According to him, President Obasanjo also informed them that he had come to give them a fatherly advice and also to hear of their needs and the problems facing the family, so that he could present their needs and problems to President Goodluck Jonathan in order to find a lasting solution to problems facing the family as well as work towards ensuring that the Boko Haram crisis which started in 2009 was brought to an end.

While speaking on whether the family had confidence in President Obasanjo’s visit as well as his ability towards bringing the crisis to an end, the late Alhaji Fugu said, “we are confident that Obasanjo’s visit would resolve the Boko Haram crises in Borno State. We are 100 per cent sure that President Obasanjo has all it takes for the Boko Haram crisis to be resolved.”

When the news filtered in that Alhaji Fugu was killed by unknown gunmen at about 1.00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday Tribune sought confirmation with spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order in Borno State, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, who simply said; “I have no knowledge of anything like that; I am not aware.”

But the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Simeon Midenda, told Sunday Tribune that he heard of the report and had since dispatched his officers and men to confirm it.

Meanwhile, report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa service said Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Babakura Alhaji Baba Fugu, the brother in-law to the late Mallam Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the Islamic sect.

Meanwhile, Sunday Tribune lernt that Fugu might have been shot by members of the sect who felt aggrieved that he spoke on their behalf when Obasanjo visited the Yusuf family.

Sources close to the JTF confirmed the killing of Fugu on Saturday.

The source said: “Mr. Babakura Fugu, spokesman of the Fugu family, who only on Thursday received former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his visit to the Mohammed Yusuf family in his mediation efforts with Boko Haram, was shot this afternoon (Saturday). He has just been killed by fellow members of the sect.”

The source stated that in-fighting within the group and alleged discontent over the handling of Obasanjo’s visit might have led to the killing.

It was gathered that members of the sect felt that Fugu was too forward in handling the Obasanjo visit and that he did not follow laid-down procedures of the sect.

It was also said that some of the members felt that Fugu did not handle the largesse allegedly dropped by Obasanjo in the tradition already established by the sect.

A source stated on Saturday: “It is evident that other members of the sect felt the Babakura Fugu shouldn’t have been the person to talk on their behalf during Obasanjo’s visit. I can see evidence of envy among the members.

“Normally, any money that comes the way of Boko Haram, either through gifts, bank robberies or other sources, is shared into five places; for the widows of Boko Haram, Zhakat, the less-privileged members of the sect, Sukrah — the highest ruling organ of Boko Haram — and members who got the money. There is suspicion that Fugu defied the formula this time.”

Sources also said on Saturday that former President Obasanjo’s visit to the Boko Haram stronghold was his personal initiative aimed at bringing peace to the country.

Though sources said that the former president intimated President Jonathan of his plan, it was gathered that he decided to make the trip to Maiduguri and Jos as a statesman who is desirous of the unity of the country.

A source within the ruling party confirmed that Obasanjo is passionate about Nigeria and as an elder statesman, he could not afford to see the country in flames.

“The former president said he was taking a cue from the United States of America, where former presidents rise above party affiliations and political considerations to contribute their quota towards ensuring peace and unity in the country,” a source stated.

-Tribunewp_posts