How I was recruited into Boko Haram sect – Abuja bombing suspect

One of the suspected Boko Haram members, Abdulwa­heed Nasiru a.k.a Haulaki who allegedly participated in the October 2 multiple blasts in Nyanya and Kuje, two satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory, that claimed about 20 lives has sensationally told the role he played in the incident.

He was among the five suspects paraded Thursday at the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad Headquarters in Abuja, where several bomb-making materials recovered from them were also displayed. Others are Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh and Abdullahi Nasiru.

They were arraigned in court same day even as Haulaki left his lawyer speechless when he pleaded guilty to the charges read to him.

At the police station before his arraignment, Haulaki, who is a native of Okene, Kogi State confessed that he was indoctrinated into the Boko Haram sect by one Mustapha.

He admitted that he was further convinced to join the sect when university graduates tore their certificates just to become members of the sect.

“I am an Igbira man and my people are mainly Muslims. I was able to attend primary school which I did not complete because my parents were farmers and they said education was a waste of time. I came to Abuja seven years ago to learn auto mechanic at Games Village and I graduated four years after before establishing my own workshop at Galadima roundabout, Abuja. I got married and my wife is currently pregnant.

“In 2013 I was convinced to join Boko Haram at the mosque along the road before Total Filling Station, in Aiyoke area of Okene, Kogi State. Though I rented an apartment very close to the mosque, it was one of the sons of the landlord of that house, who is my friend, Abubakar that convinced me to start attending the mosque before he was killed during one of their clashes with soldiers. He personally introduced me to Mustapha, the Imam and owner of the mosque.

“Mustapha was the one who indoctrinated me into the Boko Har­am sect. He urged me through his teachings which were mainly on Fridays after the Jumat prayers, Saturdays and Sundays to be faith­ful to God and do His wishes and I should also oppose those going against the teachings of Prophet Muhammed.

“Mustapha usually urged us to support cause of Jihad in any part of the country in any way we can and when we cannot donate our­selves or money to the cause, we should at least pray for those wag­ing the war. In some of his teachings, he told us that western educa­tion was a sin and working for the government was also a sin. He then asked those who have gone through secondary and university education to destroy their certificates. A lot of people, who gradu­ated from the secondary and university in that mosque, destroyed their certificates. That singular act fully convinced me that if these my brothers who attended university can destroy their certificates be­cause of Boko Harm, I should not hesitate,” he said.

Aside his late friend Abubakar who was killed during a clash be­tween Boko Haram members and soldiers, Haulaki met some other young men, like Usman, Abduljalal, Abu Hamza, Bilal and Haroun.

“These men were highly devoted to the cause and they told me that they usually rob unbelievers and use the money to support the activities of the group. Abu Hamza is our leader and also one of the bomb manufacturers, he also trained Usman how to make bomb. The main bomb making expert is one Al Qudus, he has trained so many people. Hamza was the one who led us to rob two banks in Owo, Ondo State and Okene, Kogi State, and it is through that means that he raises money for bomb materials and others. I am a very good driver and my duty is to drive vehicles to various destinations. I usu­ally don’t ask if there is bomb in those vehicles or not, all I do is to follow instruction. Few months ago, some security agents came from Kaduna and arrested Hamza and took him away. Few days to the Sallah, Usman was also arrested in Abuja with a stolen car and I got instructions from very senior members of our sect to move all the ready-made bombs and bomb-making materials out of Usman’s house in Gaulaki area in Suleja Ni­ger State to my brother’s house in Karmajiji who is also a member of the sect and another house at Iddo area after Airport in Abuja. I also gave, two Ak-47 rifles and some bombs to a senior member, Ab­dulahi who took them to Okene, Kogi State. Few days before the last sallah, vigilante men arrested me and handed me over to soldiers from where I was detained and later handed over to the police,” he fur­ther narrated.

Realising that the game was up, Haulaki took the police to three houses where they use to keep already made bombs and chemicals at Iddo, Gaulaka and Dan Asato areas in Abuja and Suleja.

When asked which part of the Engineering text book they use to consult as guideline on to how to make bomb, Haulaki said: “I told you that I did not finish primary school, so I can hardly read or write. These big books belong to Al Qudus who is the bomb making expert. Whenever they are producing the bomb, he would be reading things out and those that went to school will understand. It’s like he read engineering at the university.”

Their arrest

Shortly after the October 2 attacks in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase drafted the newly established Spe­cial Intelligence Response Team, SIRT, to investigate and possibly arrest the suspects.

The elite unit of the Police Force, created by Arase, to combat terrorism , armed robbery, kidnapping and various violent crimes, launched a massive onslaught on the Abuja cell of the sect, leading to the arrest of five suspected members while several IEDS, laptop and IED materials were recovered .

Investigations revealed that the arrest of the suspects and subse­quent recoveries have since thrown members of the sect, who are mainly Igbirra in Okene, Kogi State, into disarray.

Security sources, who spoke in Okene, Kogi State, on the condi­tion of anonymity, disclosed that several members of the cell, based in Abuja are returning in their scores to Okene, while others have been forced to escape and relocate to neighboring states.

It was gathered that, the operatives from SIRT, trailed two of the suspects, Abdulazeez Muhazab and Ishiaka Salihu, to a house at Karamajiri, behind Military Area, Cemetery, off Airport road, Abuja, recovered several detonators, chemicals in both liquid and powder form used for making bombs and other readymade bombs.

However, sources at the Force Headquarters Abuja, disclosed that the exhibits and intelligence gathered from the scene of the explo­sion, were actually produced by the group.

The suspects also, mentioned one Haulaki in military custody and Umar, as their leaders in Abuja. Haulaki, whose real names are Ab­dulwaheed Nasiru, was handed over to the police and during interro­gations confessed and disclosed the addresses of three houses within Abuja, Suleija and Niger State, where they produce and store explo­sives. It was gathered that the operatives also proceeded to Gauaraka area in Suleja, Niger State, Iddo Village off Airport road Abuja and at Dan Asato area of Sulieja, where five readymade IEDS, chemicals used for bomb mak­ing, detonator, HP laptop, two books on chemical and engineering materials were recovered. An Ipad, loaded with IED, plate number of a car, scale, digital mil­limeter and a knife were also recovered. It was gathered that the Haulaki, also led the operatives to Galadima area, where a senior member of the sect, Adulahi Na­sir, who is also a local electronic engi­neer was arrested.

 -Sun News