Untold Story of Boko Haram, It’s Ideology, What They Want and Why They Are Winning the Battle

Ahmad Salkida is a Nigerian Journalist who has extensively covered the the activities of the Boko Haram is crudely translated to ‘Western Education is forbidden’ and officially known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Prophet’s Teachings for Propagation and Jihad).

Because of his closeness with the late founder of the sect, Muhammed Yusuf, Salkida has become an authority in terms of the happenings around the sect. Unfortunately, the Nigerian Government has failed to take advantage of his vast knowledge to deal with the Boko Haram sect.

For the past years, the government has demonstrated clearly that it is fighting the war against insurgency without understanding what it is fighting. Little wonder, the sect has grown from a mere group of bandits to a group with international connections and armed with sophisticated weapons.

According to Akin Akintayo, Going into the 7^th month, the Chibok Girls are still in captivity, the #BringBackOurGirls movement is unrelenting in their protests, carnage has destroyed life and property, states have been under a State of Emergency for over a year and yet, Boko Haram seems to run writ large on Nigerian sovereign territory.

In a series of tweet tagged #WhatDoesBHWant, Salkida has given an expert knowledge into the ideology of the Boko Haram sect, its operations, the violent onslaught and other difficult to understand activities of the sect. Let us reiterate that Salkida is not a member of Boko Haram. He only happened to have been privilege to have access to them. You can read his story here: The Genesis of Boko Haram: An Insider’s Account

Below are the tweets from Salkida via his twitter handle:

This forum is not about Salkida but Boko Haram. If you have issues with me take it somewhere else please

This is going to be a frank discussion in an attempt to understand Boko Haram. Some Questions can only be answered in multiple tweets. Follow #WhatdoesBHwant

The name Boko Haram emanated from Bauchi in 2009 & has reduced the scope of the Boko Haram ideology to only mean they forbid Western education.

In 2006 late Yusuf personally handed me a press release that stated, Islam permits them to subsist under a modern govt, but has explicitly prohibited them from supporting such govts as far as their structures contradict core Islamic beliefs.

Yusuf had never hiden the desire of Boko Haram to carryout Jihad and ultimately secure Daula (State), the dream of every ‘Jihadi’ movements.

Boko Haram do not see me & others as Muslims because of our inclination to western schools & civil obedience based on d constitution.

Anybody that says Boko Haram want people prosecuted or immunity is an imposter because Boko Haram believe our courts are all forms of Taghut.

The central theme of the Boko Haram ideology is to reject and dissociate oneself in the belief of all forms of deities. They indoctrinate sect members to hate even their own parents, brothers etc if they are associated with ‘Kufr’ (denial of truth).

Boko Haram believe they are Sunni Islam, they want to return ‘Islam’ to what they view as the interpretation of first generation Muslims.

The Boko Haram that kidnapped girls and on rampage have nothing to do with our local politics, they are inclined to global ‘Jihad’ movement in favour of strict textualism in interpreting Qur’an & Hadith. To engage in rational disputation is forbidden.

To Boko Haram, the validity of human reason is severely limited and rational proofs can neither be trusted nor relied upon.

When moderates argue that Muslims can join politics, schools, civil service etc to be able to compete, Boko Haram argues to d contrary.

Boko Haram/Islamic State (IS) use this verse: “When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe, I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.”

Moderate Muslims believe that the background for this command is within an actual battle situation, Battle of Badr in the year 624. Same way Christians argue that I Samuel 15:3 that command King Saul to commit genocide must not be used out of context

Fear is a uniquely & effective weapon for Boko Haram, their rhetoric’s currently outstrips their capabilities & it has affected the army.

From 2012 to date Boko Haram have killed and beheaded even their members & Ansaru for breaching Bai’a (pledge) to Shekau. They rely on a Hadith of Abu Hurairah that forbids them to disregard one’s Bai’a to an Imam.

READ: Boko Haram Leader “Abubakar Shekau Is Well And Alive” – Ahmed Salkida

I’m afraid, this crisis may go out of control. Sources say IS has sent envoys to examine Boko Haram, “if they have an agreement, we are likely going to see IS asking Jihadists that cannot travel to Iraq/Syria to go to Nigeria & Libya to fight”

Boko Haram got its major initial funding from what they call ‘Fai’u’ robbery. Between 2010/12 over 500M naira was carted away from bank.

Boko Haram are also engaged in ‘extortion,’ small scale and high profile kidnapping, and ransom is their biggest war chest.

Non-combatant or inactive members also contribute proceeds from their businesses from all over Africa.

Contributions also come from like-minded Jihadi groups from like AQM and from other groups around d world.

A large chunk of their weapons and other hardware are seized from Cameroon security forces but in most cases from the Nigerian Army.

Today my sources told me that the money, resources, food and military hardware they got from #Mubi can sustain their war for 1 year.

What do they really want?

Boko Haram wants to implement their brand of Sharia. Muslims, Christians or Atheists who oppose their doctrine will be attacked.

Except according to them the ‘unbelievers’ in their caliphate will pay tax and live according to certain rules set by them.

If by tomorrow, the Sultan of Sokoto becomes Nigeria’s leader and every Christian convert to Islam, Boko Haram will continue their onslaught.

Their grouse is with d institution of democracy and our way of life. To Boko Haram, both supporters & secular institutions must be destroyed.

The chances of Boko Haram agreeing to a ceasefire/retreat from captured territories through peaceful means as recently announced is 1/10.

Danladi Ahmadu who is claiming to be working with the FG on peace settlement has nothing to do with Boko Haram as a group or its leader.

The name Danladi in the first place based on Boko Haram doctrine is Kufr, the name means someone born on Sunday which to Boko Haram is apostasy.

Again Danladi, always refer to Allah as ‘Ubangijji’ in Hausa, a name Boko Haram consider to be Shirk (deification). Using the prefix of Uba (father) & gijji, a name of an idol, Ubangijji (Master of gijji) is a word Boko Haram leaders preach against.

Boko Haram believes that their “success” is built with the blood/Shahada of their brethren & many prefer to die in war than in peacetime.

Any negotiation by Boko Haram will have to be strictly guided by Sharia and NO govt will suspend its constitution because its treason.

The Danladi saga reveals absolute lack of basic knowledge by those prosecuting the war on terror in Nigeria.

Captives can be released based on a swap arrangement but for the Federal Government to get Boko Haram to dialogue, they have to change they tide.

In May 2014 Boko Haram had agreed to release captives for 400 of their members but few hours to the swap, the FG called it off. Shekau then became angry when the swap in May was called off. He then shifted the goal post to ‘all members’ (over 2000) of them.

What affected my intervention with two other passionate and patriotic Nigerians was unhealthy rivalry and backstabbing by different cliques around the president. Even the agencies of govt are not holistic in their work.

Anybody that claim Boko Haram will release captives for 10 or 30 detained members is being misled by his contacts if he has any.

The idea of releasing a few Commanders came about by some middle level BH members that think Shekau may have cold feet if he sees some of his associates after long, he may reverse to the May 2014 concessions which seem more doable for any govt.

The Boko Haram doctrine, according to its leaders, attach the same value to both foot soldiers & leaders. Any loyal Boko Haram member is valuable.

I have always said on this street and in a recent interview that the release of chibok girls should have been a national emergency.

However, I strongly believe that Shekau said he married out all chibokgirls in anger. He will not repeat previous threats. To repeat the same threat more than twice, according to sources, present the group as weak going by their ‘conquest.

Shekau value his members in detention probably more than the girls, so chances are that he can let them go especially if the girls want to return. The decision to free captives is, if they prefer to leave and if Shekau is satisfied with the number of prisoners to be swapped.

For chibok mothers, they don’t care if their daughter’s are married or not, they want them back home that is what is important.

The Cameroon govt released over 200 suspects, after 4 days Boko Haram released hostages, the FG doesn’t need any negotiator for this.

There are NO shortcuts to this crisis, as I said in my recent interview (http://newswirengr.com/2014/10/07/exclusive-the-release-of-the-abducted-girls-should-have-been-a-national-emergency-ahmad-salkida/# …) Govt must change d tide to their favour. To release captives in a swap with Boko Haram is not the same with negotiating an end to this conflict. They must be two different things.

According to Boko Haram, to forsake Sharia is (Kufr Al-Akbar) to retreat from Bama, Gwoza, Mubi etc is such Kufr, they will not. According to Boko Haram, their brand of Sharia is superior to d constitution, therefore negotiation will be dictated by the later.

No govt can suspend its constitution. Therefore, the most realistic option is for the Nigerian Army to meet Boko Haram in the battle field.

BH have moved from a Jihadi group like Al-Qaida to a Daula. They believe it is Allah that gave them conquest, so no compromise.

Daula to them henceforth is conquering territories, town after towns, no retreat even if the last person will die.

Apparently there could be d political Boko Haram that uses the name of the group to carry out assassinations of some opponent’s. Again, there are some politicians and security contractors both in the North and South that have grown tall on the crest of Boko Haram crisis.

But the political Boko Haram or criminal elements cannot blowup themselves, they are not capturing territories, they are in the minority.

Politicians are not involved in the ideological Boko Haram that arr responsible for about 90% of the violence in Nigeria and Cameroon.

The Federal Government’s only crime here in my opinion is how they have so far mismanaged the crisis.

What is important here is to say nothing but the truth. We have to understand this problem as it is.

How can we stop this war?

As long Boko Haram makes sustained territorial gains, they will determine the course of any negotiation. The only way out of this is for govt to fight if it can, but if it cant, then it must give in to the demands of Boko Haram.

We can only fight with a professional army that is accountable and respect those they are defending.

So Boko Haram have one of the fastest growing army, the number of conscripts out numbers the death. how this stop? Govt must ensure that NO more territory is lost, they must bring in new thinking that is devoid of corruption.

Boko Haram has nothing to do with Federal GovernmentG, Jonathan or the Niger Delta they only feed on our differences and obsession with conspiracy theories.

Boko Haram ideological army not conscripts go into war to die than come back alive. We have to give the Nigerian Army that feeling to die 4 Nigeria.

Salkida Now takes to answering questions.

Question: Apart from prisoner swap do they ve more demands?” Salkida answers No.

Question: I want to know if it’s possible to reach a settlement with Boko Haram under the present constitutional arrangement.” Again, Salkida answers NO.

Question:  I want to know if Boko Haram can keep to terms of the Prisoner swaps and Salkida answers, Boko Hara kept their promise to Cameroon.

My links to BH can be categories into two: (1) Is that of a decade-long source and a persistent reporter. (2) Pre- ’09 Boko Haram, I was close to late Yusuf on account of my reports and he showed tremendous respect for me before his followers.

FAQ: lead the Nigerian Army to your sources? First of all, they are the ones that contact me and not other way round, I don’t know where they live.

The principle of journalistic privilege is a key pillar of press freedom. though this right is not absolute and I have never abused it.

Thank you Nigerians for your understanding, I’m human, I make mistakes but I have Neva lost my humanity to love & respect others.

END.

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