Surrendered Boko Haram Members Protest And Riot Over Cow Meat In Camp

Boko Haram members who had surrendered and are being held in a camp reportedly rioted over cow meat on Wednesday, November 17. A report from Guardian newspaper said the surrendered jihadists who has been in camp since August, demanded that authorities hand over cows they are provided for on a daily to them instead of the beef from the abattoir.

Konto Garga who is a member of an anti-jihadist militia assisting the army in camp said: “People living in the area came out with locally made weapons and vowed to kill any one of the protesters who stepped out of the camp. The people still see them as a security threat.’’

Usman Bunu who is a resident of the community housing the former Boko Haram members said people living in the area do not trust the surrendered jihadists and the protest was confirmation of their suspicions.

 “They still consider anyone not in their fold as an infidel, which is why they want to be allowed to slaughter their cow themselves. Had they come out of the camp we would not have hesitated in finishing them all because we know how dangerous they are” Bunu said.

The riot would end following threats from residents of the community and reinforcement of security operatives as inmates made their way back into their quarters. 

Militia leader Babakura Kolo said the riot was the second since the former jihadists were put in camp, revealing that a similar riot had taken place in September over the same demand. Kolo said the surrendered Boko Haram fighters who are in their hundreds in camp act unruly to men guarding the camp, quarrel with them constantly, and accuse them of looking at their wives.  

“They still have Boko Haram mentality and openly insult our men as agents of the infidel government,” said Kolo.

 The Nigerian government has come under heavy criticism for camping the surrendered terrorists and catering for them rather than arraigning them in court to face justice.

Source

Guardian NG

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