'How I was Recruited By Boko Haram Insurgents'
A 34-year-old man, Oyebuchi Romanus, who hailed from Ekwusigo Local Government Area in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, has revealed how he was forcefully recruited by the Boko Haram insurgents in Jos, Plateau State.
While speaking with newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State on Wednesday, 17 September, 2014, Romanus stated that he was recruited by the Boko Haram terrorists in May this year and taken to a place near Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State for training against his wish.
The Igbo man added that he was recruited by insurgents shortly after he had lost his business in a bomb blast that rocked Jos early this year.
Romanus said while he was lamenting over the loss of his business, unknown men forcibly put him in the boot of their car and later discovered that they were driving towards the Northern part of the country.
He claimed that he couldn’t resist the terrorists because he was drugged before he was bundled in the boot of a car.
Romanus informed that when they got to their destination, his abductors finally introduced themselves as members of the Boko Haram sect.
He said he was asked by his abductors to join them or they would kill him.
“I accepted to join the Boko Haram group to save my life. My religious belief and upbringing forbid me from killing my fellow human being which made me not to participate in any of their activities.
“And when they realised this, they started threatening my life even to the point of swearing in the name of Allah(God) that they would killed me if l continue to dodge their activities.
“But when I saw how serious they were, I decided to run away from their camp to Niger Republic when I was asked to fetch water from a nearby river before finding my way back to the state,” Romanus narrated.
He claimed it was the prayers of Nigerians that helped him to escape from the training camp of the insurgents near Madagali.
It would be recalled that it was reported few weeks ago that the Boko Haram sect has been forcefully recruiting youths into the Islamist group.
Last week, the father of the personal assistant to acting Governor of Adamawa State, Tanko Wazimtu was killed in his Madagali residence by youths who are members of Boko Haram group.
It was gathered that Pa Wazintu, 75, was killed by members of the Islamist sect in the presence of his wife and daughter.
