Boko Haram: Irate Youths Mob Senator Sheriff In Maiduguri

SAN FRANCISCO, January 13, (THEWILL) - Former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was mobbed and pelted with stones on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by some persons suspected to be sponsored political thugs, who blamed him for the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

The action came barely 48 hours after a similar treatment was meted out to the State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, by some irate youths.

The irate youths numbering about 100 who waited for the convoy of the former governor along  the Shehu of Borno palace road, shouted angrily on sighting him, insisting that the convoy should turn back as they pelted him with stones, saying he was not welcome in the state The youths were said to have laid an ambush for Sheriff when news filtered in that he was paying a visit to  the Shehu of Borno.

"As soon as he was (Sheriff) was sighted, the youths threw stones, sachets of pure water and fireworks   at his convoy.

They tore his posters and threw it at his convoy.
The youths accused him of causing their   problems, saying 'you are the cause of Borno problem, you brought Boko Haram crisis on the state,'one local resident told THEWILL.

The former governor was said to have been ferried into the palace of the Shehu by his security details amidst the commotion and  had to be driven away from the palace in another vehicle as the car he came in was vandalised by the irate youths.

Although the former governor could not be reached for comments, one of his close political associates blamed  the attack on Governor Shettima, who had alleged that the early attack on him was instigated by Sherrif.