Teen Suspect In Viral Video Claims Role In Borno Attacks

The Nigerian Army has shared a viral video of the confession by a teenager who claims to be a member of Boko Haram on its official X formerly Twitter Handle.

In the video which has now gone Viral online, the boy who identified himself as Tijanni claimed to be 15years old and was involved with Boko Haram under a commander named “Babulama”.

He also claimed when questioned by his interrogators that he was a part of the attacks in Benisheikh and the Ngamdu communities in Borno State.

He described movements by him and his group between locations including Maiduguri in Borno and Gombe in Gombe States.

“Babulama is our commander’s name, Yes. we were the ones that attacked Ngamdu and Benisheikh”.

“We went back to Jilli when we were done at Ngamdu and Bensheikh”

The teenager also spoke about the group’s operations, saying members move through forested areas and carry out coordinated mission across the Northeast.

“We were then sent to go get materials from outside by our commander, Babulama”.

“We were to go to Maiduguri then we slept at Gombe”.

He described himself as a person of no fixed address.

He added that the group planned to attack Ngamdu again on a revenge mission to capture the commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base of the Operation Hadin Kai in Ngamdu.

According to him the attack is a revenge mission for the death of 6 Children who are members of the group.

He said his group will attack the base with 29 Vehicles and it will take place on a Friday in two weeks from when he was being questioned.

He also confirmed that the Jilli enclave whose market was bombed over the weekend is a Boko Haram base, “Boko Haram resides in Jili, Yes, there is Boko Haram in Jilli”.

He disclosed however that he is an indigene of Jilli.

The Air Component of the Operation Hadin Kai conducted Airstrikes in the Jili market area over the weekend describing the strike as successful against a verified terrorists logistic hub.

https://x.com/HQNigerianArmy/status/2043357060113317912?s=20

Human rights campaigners and Aid agencies have however called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the airstrike and the victims whose fatalities or otherwise have varied widely between close to 5o and more.

In separate reactions, the governors of Borno and Yobe States have both confirmed the airstrike as targeted at Boko Haram insurgents in the area with civilians caught in the raid.

They also urged residents not to collaborate with insurgents.

The Borno State government also pointed out that the Jilli market on its side of the border with Yobe State has been closed down for over five years.