FG uncovers killer of Boko Haram Chief
THE Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Borno axis has identified the killer of an in -law of Boko Haram founder Babakura Fugu, who was assassinated on Saturday.
Fugu was killed for speaking on behalf of the group with former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was in Borno, the Boko Haram stronghold on Friday.
Sources close to the JTF told the Nigerian Tribune that the late Fugu was shot by a loyalist of the wanted Mallam Mamman Nur, who is wanted for masterminding the bombing of the UN House on August 26.
It was leant that one Ustaz Mote, who grew up in the Fugu family, was used to carry out the murder.
Security operative were said to have launched a manhunt for him on Sunday.
It was learnt on Sunday that the spiritual leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, was said to have condemned the killing of Fugu, describing it as a further turture of the troubled Fugu family.
A source told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that “the assassination of Mallam Babakura Fugu on Saturday afternoon in Maiduguri was said to have been masterminded by the Mamman Nur group (a faction of Boko Haram), which felt that the recent arrest of some key members of the group, who are very close associates of Nur, were facilitated by the late Fugu.
“The group also beleived that Fugu had entered into undue alliance with the Federal Government and that he was benefitting financially.
“One Ustaz Mote, who grew up in the Fugu family house and an ardent footsoldier of Nur was used for the dastardly act.
“I can tell you that security agents are their trail. You can also note that the spiritual leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, is said to have condemned the assassination of Fugu, describing it as immoral and further injustice on the Fugu family, which has every right to seek redress on perceived persecution without recourse to the group.”
It was learnt that the killing of the host of former president, Chief Obasanjo, in Maiduguri had endangered the peace option being pursued with the sect.
Meanwhile, following report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa service that members of the Boko Haram sect have claimed responsibility for the killing of Babakura Fugu, its spokesman, Abu Kaka, has denied the claim by the BBC, stating that the sect did not kill him.
Abu Kaka, who spoke with newsmen in a telephone interview in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, also warned international media to desist from reporting what the group had not said or claimed, unless if it actually said so.
The spokeman, who said they were not happy with the report by BBC and other international media, called on the media to be careful while reporting issues or happenings in the state.
“We did not kill Baba-kura Fugu and we did not claim responsibility for his killing as reported by the BBC and other international media.”
“We are not happy with the way we are being misquoted and misrepresented in the media, especially by the international radio houses like BBC, VOA (Voice of America) and Radio France International. Today, we received with shock the unfortunate killing of the family member of our leader, Sheik Muhammed Yusuf, but to our dismay, we later heard it on the BBC that we said we were responsible for it. This is unacceptable, because the BBC cannot receive a text message sent to their head office without our name on it.
“This kind of false representation has been going on for some time now and we will not continue to tolerate it any longer. The media houses should know that we have an understanding with the press whom we regard as mediators; but if they don't do their job professionally, we will be compelled to take action on their reporters on the ground just the way we take actions on the security agents and other enemies of Islam,” he said.
Courtesy Tribune