We‘ re being attacked by snakes in Sambisa – Fleeing insurgents

By Sunny Nwankwo / Special Correspondent, Maiduguri         
Two members of Boko Haram arrested Wednesday, at Mairi ward behind University of Maiduguri by members of the vigilante group, known as Civilian JTF have confessed that, most of them are fleeing the Sambisa forest to local governments areas across Borno state, due to new development in the forest that, they believe was a spiritual attack.

According to Kolo Mustapha, one of the insurgents arrested, “most of us are fleeing because there are too many snakes now in the forest, once they bite, they disappear and the victims do not last for 24 hours. We were told that the people of Chibok local government are the ones turning into snakes and attacking us in the forest.”
He said, some of their leaders too have escaped to Cameroon because they are known to the Nigerian authorities and are easily identified. According to him, those of them, who lived all their lives in Maiduguri have nowhere to run to but to return and tried to sneak into town.
The captured terrorist said, they came in Tuesday night and were trying to hide in some uncompleted buildings when some members of the Civilian JTF saw them. After they were arrested; some of the CJTF members were able to identify them.
“We are pleading with them to spare our lives, we were forced into the sect, but we know that it is not the right way. I personally have never killed anyone, but I have my friend here has killed people. “ he said.
Umar Abor, the other sect member arrested said, Mustapha is lying as all of them have participated in all heinous acts of the sect in the past. “ We have fought together since 2010, we have fought in Marte, Bama, Buni Yadima and Gwoza. We were not in Chibok, we have not seen the girls but we heard about it. Our leaders have been talking about it and we have been following all news from the radio.
“We decided to flee when almost all our comrades are leaving the Sambisa because of constant snakes bite which we were told was as a result of Chibok girls abducted. They (Our Leaders) told us that, it was the people of Chibok that are hunting us through diabolical means in the form of snakes. We were in the forest in 2010 and 2011, and we left and came back last year but we have never experienced snakes as this year, reason why they believe the Chibok people are using “juju” to pursue us because of their children said to have been abducted by our leader.” he said.
According to him, they have realized their mistakes and have turned on new life. They also promised that, if they are spared they would help the community in fishing out some of their comrades and will help authorities to lead them to some of the places their comrades had fled to for safety.
Ali Musa, leader of the Civilian JTF at Bama road, who arrested the sect Members told our Correspondent that, many of them have been fleeing the Sambisa forest since last two weeks and most of them are being arrested and taken to the authorities except in situation where they attempted to resists arrest that, they are left with no option but to waste them.
“These ones have not attempted to run or do anything stupid, they promise to take us to where they hide their weapons, now we are taking them to our chairman in sector 5, before they are handed to security operative. We have arrested dozens since last week, who are trying to come to town.” He added.