Boko Haram visit: Obasanjo’s host shot dead
Source: vanguard
Babakura Fugu , the representative of Mohammed Yusuf’s family that received former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday, has been killed.
He was shot dead yesterday.
His assailants were said to have been led by his younger brother.
Yusuf was the deceased leader of the now dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect, who was killed while in police custody in December 2009.
Sources told Sunday Vanguard that members of the sect may have felt he (Fugu) shouldn’t have been the one to receive Obasanjo.
It was learnt that “there may have been evidence of envy in the ranks of the sect members”.
In addition, it was gathered that the former president gave a gift of cash to the family after his meeting.
The money (the exact amount which could not be ascertained) is being rumoured to be a source of friction among the sect members.
According to the sources, Boko Haram members had put in place a formula for the sharing of whatever proceeds that may come into the purse of the sect – made up of either money stolen from banks or gifts.
The sharing formula is said to have five overheads viz:
* Widows of members
* Zhakat
* Less privileged members
* Sukrah – this is the highest ruling organ of the sect
* Members who robbed or got the money into the purse of the group.
Although unconfirmed, Sunday Vanguard learnt that “Fugu may have jettisoned this sharing formula”.
The former president had met with members of Yusuf’s family at the family house in Maiduguri
Obasanjo, who arrived at the Maiduguri airport, on Thursday at 11:40 a.m., was received by the state deputy governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha.
The meeting with the family members lasted about 90 minutes. Obasanjo met Yusuf’s family members at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of the sect.
Obasanjo, at that meeting, said: “This is a personal initiative.
“I urge you to forgive and forget the past.
“I plead with you, give me the chance to mediate between the family and government”.
In response, Fugu, Yusuf’s brother-in-law, whose father was executed in 2009 and he himself killed in yesterday’s incident, said, “Since 2009, this is the first time any high profile figure would be commiserating with the family.
“We are happy with this visit.
“About 30 to 40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun”.
The former president thereafter departed Borno.
Earlier on Wednesday, Obasanjo was in Jos, the Plateau State capital, which has been a theatre of ethno-religious killings.
His visit to Jos saw him holding talks with the leadership of Jamatu Nasir Islam, JNI, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, as well as leaders of Plateau State.
Although details of Obasanjo’s meetings with the Boko Haram members and the Plateau religious leaders were not immediately known, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that they were not unconnected with the increase in the wave of bombings and killings in the country.
Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader, was killed while in the custody of the police in Maiduguri after his arrest by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF.
Already, some policemen are being tried for the extra-judicial killing. The trial is believed to be a way of assuaging the feelings of the sect leaders and getting them to cease fire.
But the bombings and killings have continued with the United Nations
headquarters in Abuja being the latest target to be hit by the Boko
Haram members, leaving scores of people dead. Before then, they had
bombed the police headquarters in Abuja.
Babakura Fugu , the representative of Mohammed Yusuf’s family that received former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday, has been killed.
He was shot dead yesterday.
His assailants were said to have been led by his younger brother.
Yusuf was the deceased leader of the now dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect, who was killed while in police custody in December 2009.
Sources told Sunday Vanguard that members of the sect may have felt he (Fugu) shouldn’t have been the one to receive Obasanjo.
It was learnt that “there may have been evidence of envy in the ranks of the sect members”.
In addition, it was gathered that the former president gave a gift of cash to the family after his meeting.
The money (the exact amount which could not be ascertained) is being rumoured to be a source of friction among the sect members.
According to the sources, Boko Haram members had put in place a formula for the sharing of whatever proceeds that may come into the purse of the sect – made up of either money stolen from banks or gifts.
The sharing formula is said to have five overheads viz:
* Widows of members
* Zhakat
* Less privileged members
* Sukrah – this is the highest ruling organ of the sect
* Members who robbed or got the money into the purse of the group.
Although unconfirmed, Sunday Vanguard learnt that “Fugu may have jettisoned this sharing formula”.
The former president had met with members of Yusuf’s family at the family house in Maiduguri
Obasanjo, who arrived at the Maiduguri airport, on Thursday at 11:40 a.m., was received by the state deputy governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha.
The meeting with the family members lasted about 90 minutes. Obasanjo met Yusuf’s family members at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of the sect.
Obasanjo, at that meeting, said: “This is a personal initiative.
“I urge you to forgive and forget the past.
“I plead with you, give me the chance to mediate between the family and government”.
In response, Fugu, Yusuf’s brother-in-law, whose father was executed in 2009 and he himself killed in yesterday’s incident, said, “Since 2009, this is the first time any high profile figure would be commiserating with the family.
“We are happy with this visit.
“About 30 to 40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun”.
The former president thereafter departed Borno.
Earlier on Wednesday, Obasanjo was in Jos, the Plateau State capital, which has been a theatre of ethno-religious killings.
His visit to Jos saw him holding talks with the leadership of Jamatu Nasir Islam, JNI, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, as well as leaders of Plateau State.
Although details of Obasanjo’s meetings with the Boko Haram members and the Plateau religious leaders were not immediately known, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that they were not unconnected with the increase in the wave of bombings and killings in the country.
Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader, was killed while in the custody of the police in Maiduguri after his arrest by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF.
Already, some policemen are being tried for the extra-judicial killing. The trial is believed to be a way of assuaging the feelings of the sect leaders and getting them to cease fire.
File photo: Suspected Boko Haram members after their arrest.
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