Less than 10 original Boko Haram members still alive – Borno Govt

•Says many killed by snake bite, some by leadership tussle, others from military action

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The Government of Borno State said most founding members of the Boko Haram terrorists died as a result of snake bites in the bush.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Borno State Government on Security Affairs, Brig. Gen. Ishaq Abdullahi (Rtd).

He said only about 10 members of the deadly group might still be alive.

He also said many top commanders of the group died due to leadership tussles that followed the death of their leader, Abubakar Shekau, in 2021.

It would be recalled that a leadership crisis broke out between Boko Haram insurgents loyal to Shekau and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

Abdullahi said, “One of their leaders said out of 300 of them that started the Boko Haram sect in pre-2009, less than 10 people could be alive now. Even the remaining 10 leaders have scattered due to the game of powers.

“Some are dead as a result of snake bites in the bush, some died as a result of military actions, some drown during rainy seasons, some died due to gunshot wounds; some as a result of massive surrendering we have witnessed in the last two years.

“Some as a result of in-fighting among them because of the leadership positions, especially after the death of Shekau and that has led to the death of more than 90 per cent of the die-hards with Boko Haram ideology.

“On the other hand, many top commanders of ISWAP have lost their lives to several crises among them.”

Due to the demise of the group’s top commanders and founding members, he said the Boko Haram ideology has petered out, adding that those parading themselves as members of the deadly group are criminals who don’t have the group’s ideology.

“If you look at it, the ideology is gone and I can tell you that those parading themselves now are criminals who don’t have the ideology.”