Boko Haram members lament Snake bites and spiritual attacks in Sambisa forest

Boko Haram members are now fleeing the Sambisa forest to local governments areas across Borno State owing to strange developments in the forest, believed to be a spiritual attack, Dailypost reports.
This hint was given by two members of the Islamic militants arrested on Wednesday at Mairi ward behind University of Maiduguri by members of the Civilian JTF.
According to Kolo Mustapha, one of the insurgents arrested, snakes are now attacking them in the forest.

“Most of us are fleeing because there are too many snakes now in the forest, once they bite, they disappeared and the victims do not last for 24 hours.

“We were told that the people of Chibok local government are the ones turning into snake and attacking us in the forest”, he disclosed.

He said some of their leaders have escaped to Cameroon because they are known to the Nigerian authorities and could be easily identified.
According to him, those of them who lived all their lives in Maiduguri have nowhere to go but to return to the town.
He said they came in Tuesday and were trying to hide in some uncompleted building when some members of the Civilian JTF identified and arrested.

“We are pleading with them to spare our lives, we were forced into the sect, but we know that it is not the right way. I have never killed anyone, but my friend here has killed people”, he said.

Umar Abor, the other sect member arrested said Kolo Mustapha was lying as all of them had participated in all heinous acts by the sect in the past.

“We have fought together since 2010, we have fought in Marte, Bama, Buni Yadima and Gwoza. We were not in Chibok, we have not seen the girls but we heard about it. Our leaders have been talking about it and we have been following all news from the radio.

“We decided to flee when almost all our comrades are leaving the Sambisa because of constant attacks by snakes, which we were told was as a result of the Chibok girls abducted.

“They (our leaders) told us that it was the people of Chibok that are hunting us through diabolical means in the form of snakes. We were in the forest in 2010 and 2011; we left and came back last year but we have never experienced snakes as this year. It is believed that the Chibok people are using “juju” to pursue us because of their children”, he said.

According to him, they had realized their mistakes and had turned a new leaf.
The also promised that if spared, they would help the community in fishing out some of their members.
Ali Musa, leader of the Civilian JTF at Bama road, who arrested the sect members told DailyPost that many of them have been fleeing the Sambisa forest since last two weeks.

“These ones have not attempted to run or do anything stupid, they promised to take us to where they hide their weapons, now we are taking them to our chairman in sector 5, before they will be handed over to security operatives.

“We have arrested dozens since last week while they were trying to come to town”, he added.