Repentant Boko Haram fighters escape with govt rifles, motorcycles

Thirteen former fighters of Boko Haram, have reportedly escaped with rifles and motorcycles given to them by the Borno State government.

Premiumtimes reports that the 13 are among thousands of former Boko Haram fighters and their families who had surrendered to the government and were enlisted to join the military in fighting the ins-urge. 

The escapees attached to the military operatives in Mafa fled their camp between the 1st and 2nd of September. The report quotes Malik Samuel, a researcher with a deep understanding of jihadi groups in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, as saying that eight ex-fighters first escaped from the camp on September 1 before five others followed suit the next day.

He said the escapees called Abdullahi Ishaq, a special adviser to the government on security matters, threatened to unleash more violence.

After their escape, the jubilant terrorists reportedly released a video brandishing the rifles.

The state government is yet to react to this development.