We are scattered across Ondo State ―Boko Haram suspect

A suspected member of the Boko Haram, Mohammed Bashir, arrested by men of the Ondo State Police command last Sunday, on Tuesday said members of the sect were already scattered across the town’s and villages in the state.

Bashir who revealed this at the police headquarters in Akure, Ondo State capital, said he came to Ondo state with many other members of the group who have taken to their heels after his arrest.

He said he was arrested by the men of the Ondo State police command in Ishua, in Akoko South East local government area of the state, while he was trying to find something to eat.

According to him, they decided to leave their base in Maiduguri, Borno State after the military bombardment and regrouped in Ishua to plan their next line of action before he was arrested by the police.

Bashir, 20, who hailed from Nasarawa State said he was a cattle rearer before joining the dreaded group some eight months ago saying he was recruited into the group by some member of the group who met him in the bush with his cows.

He said his father had to send him out of the house because of his unusual quietness after joining the group which made his father suspected he had joined the Boko Haram group.

He, however, confessed killing just two people while he said the weapons they used were being supplied by a farmer who stayed in the bush and the weapons are usually returned after each operation.

Speaking on how they identify a member of the group, Bashir revealed that their ears are usually pierced as a means of identification saying his immediate younger brother also belonged to the group.

He said “when Maiduguri was too hot for us, we ran to Nassarawa State last month but we left Saturday to the South-West to hide and regroup. Other members of the group are now at large.”

Speaking on his arrest, the State Police commissioner, Gbenga Adeyanju, said Bashir was arrested by men of the command on patrol in Ishua Akoko almost at the same spot where the first suspect was arrested some few days earlier.

He said Bashir was seen loitering around the town and when queried and interrogated, police detectives were not satisfied with his explanation and he was subsequently arrested.

The police boss assured that other members of the group will soon be arrested saying “we will ensure that all the other member of the group will be arrested, we know what to do and very soon, they will be arrested.”

He, however, said Bashir was still in the protective custody of the command for further questioning and would be handed over to the army immediately after the interrogation.