by Kolapo Olapoju

Dr Stephen Davis, an Australian based international adviser has revealed that the operations of Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram, are being sponsored by some Nigerian politicians.

During the interview which aired on an Australian TV, ABC, on Wednesday, 27 August, he said that until the sponsors of the militant groups are stopped, the incessant attacks would continue.

He said, “While Al Qaeda was involved in training Boko Haram recruits, one of their major sources of funding – aside from raiding banks – was Nigerian politicians.”

“That makes it easier in some ways as they can be arrested, but of course the onus of proof is high and many are in opposition, so if the president (Goodluck Jonathan) moves against them, he would be accused of trying to rig the elections due early next year.”

“So I think this will run through to the election unabated. These politicians think that if they win power they can turn these terrorists off, but this has mutated. It’s no longer a case of Muslims purifying by killing off Christians. They are just killing indiscriminately, beheading, disembowelling people – men, women and children and whole villages.”

He, however, stated that the menace of the sect has escalated beyond the control of the politicians who are sponsoring their activities.

“I would say it’s almost beyond the control of the political sponsors now. Terror groups are linking up in Somalia, southern Sudan, Egypt and we have fairly strong evidence they are talking with ISIS members.”
“They will link up with ISIS and Al Shabaab and I think that what we are seeing in that region is the new homeland of radical Islam in the world,” he said.

Giving credence to Davis’ claim that Boko Haram is being sponsored by politicians is the ongoing court case which alleges that the Senator representing Southern Borno, Ali Ndume has been actively funding the operations of the Islamist sect.

He was put on trial last year based on some of those allegations, but the court proceedings suffered a setback when the prosecution failed to produce key witnesses in the case against him.

He was arraigned before Justice Kolawole on 12 December last year on a 4-count charge by the Department of State Services (DSS), but Ndume would pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He, however still stands accused of sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, and failing to disclose the cell phone number of Konduga, which was alleged to be in his possession. Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri), is a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect.

Many political analysts have opined that he has been able to escape prosecution because he enjoys the protection of the Presidency, especially after he swore before a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was privy to his relationship with the sect.

Davis, who has worked as an adviser to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was in Nigeria for months to assist in the rescue of the kidnapped Chibok girls, but unfortunately the attempts failed, owing to a combination of factors.

He explained, “I made a few phone calls to the Boko Haram commanders and they confirmed they were in possession of the girls.”

“They told me they’d be prepared to release some as a goodwill gesture towards a peace deal with the government, so I went to Nigeria on the basis of being able to secure their release.”

“The girls were there, 60 girls, there were 20 vehicles with the girls. We travelled for four-and-a-half hours to reach them, but 15 minutes before we arrived they were kidnapped again by another group who wanted to cash in on a reward.”

“The police had offered a reward of several million naira just 24 hours before we went to pick them up. I understand, from the Boko Haram commanders I spoke to, the girls eventually ended up back with them. I don’t know what happened to the group that took them but I suspect it wasn’t good,” he added.

The over 200 Chibok girls were abducted earlier this year in April, and despite foreign assistance and incessant calls for their rescue, the government has been unable to get them released.

Kolapo Olapoju