Boko Haram commander, who kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, surrenders

A top commander of the Boko Haram Sect who played a major role in the abduction of over 200 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok in 2014, Auwal Ismaeela, has surrendered to the military in Borno State.

Auwal is among over 100 members of the sect who have surrendered recently to the military.

Abuja based public relations outfit to the military and security agencies, the PR Nigeria, stated in a report on Sunday that the Boko Haram commander now undergoing interrogation also confessed to have participated in the killings of youths in Madagali, Adamawa State and other parts of the North East.

He was said to have have denounced the atrocious acts he was forced to commit against humanity while speaking at a special military facility for surrendered and repentant members of the deadly group.

Auwal was said to have confessed that he and one Abu Hafsat led the Boko Haram commanders to carry out the abduction of the Chibok girls.

He was also said to have confessed to the killing of students Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali in 2014.

He said that he regretted his actions which he said were against Islamic junctions and urged his colleagues to give up the fight and surrender to the military authorities.

It was stated that Auwal was helping the security agencies with useful information on the location of commanders of the sect.

He said that he lost his right leg in an attack at Konduga, Borno State but continued with the Boko Haram because he was brainwashed.

“Abu Hafsat, a Boko Haram commander, and I led other squads to abduct the Chibok girls. We led the operations to invade Gwoza, Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi, and Mubi.

“In Madagali which was my home town, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam and Habu Kudama, some high ranking Boko Haram Commander and I led an operation in 2014 where we killed some students and youths at the Central Secondary School in Sabon Garin Madagali.

“In one of the operations, I abducted my wife named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.

“It is unfortunate that I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions but in the killings of my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.

“During a battle in Konduga Boko Haram commanders and I led the operations, I lost my right leg and was almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not stop fighting for the cause. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually surrendered.” He was quoted as having said.

He said that he had to surrender to the military because he was tired of the senseless killings with the members resorting to stealing and acts opposed to the teachings of Islam.

He recalled that women were being raped in public, children starved to dead and many dying daily.

“I willingly surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killings and fights. I realised that our people have resorted to stealing and all sorts of atrocity contrary to the teachings and practice of Islam.

“Women were being raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died every day because of hunger.

“I will continue to cooperate with the security agencies in providing useful information on our mode of operations and to disclose top-secret hideouts of our commanders.”