Boko Haram: I’ve not seen Shekau in last 15 years – Mother

Mother of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, Mrs.
Falmata Abubakar, has given what appears to be her first media interview, saying that she had not seen her son in the last 15 years.
She stated this while speaking with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) in the village of Shekau, Yobe state.
In a report published yesterday, the VOA said elders and leader of the village took its team to the woman.
The report also said Shekau’s late ather was the Imam of the village Mosque before his death.
Madam Abubakar said she had no idea where her son was or his situation.
According to her, “I don’t know whether he is dead or alive, only God knows, I have not seen him in the last 15 years.” Residents of the village said they always hid the identity of their village for fear of being associated with the Boko Haram leader.
Shekau is notorious for his leadership of the deadly group responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
He has personally carried out the execution of several people including members of the sect he leads.
He has also carried out many raids leading to death and destruction of many towns and villages across the North-east.
His mother said Shekau left the village for Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, as a young boy in search of Islamic knowledge, adding that he was an “almajiri boy” who walked around the streets of Maiduguri looking for food.
She said it was in the course of seeking Islamic knowledge that her son came into contact with the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf.
She said the late Boko Haram leader was the one who indoctrinated her son.
“I did not set my eyes on him since he came into contact with Mohammed Yusuf.
I know he is my son, and everyone knows a mother’s love for her son, but our attitude to life is different,” she said.
She also said “He has put so many people in serious difficulty; I pray that God guides him right.” Madam Falmata said she would not curse his son, adding that “he has chosen a path different from the one we put him on; only God knows what he has become now.” Shekau took leadership of the group after the death of its founder, Yusuf, who was killed in police custody.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed to have killed Shekau.
The Boko Haram leader is on the federal government’s list of most wanted terrorists; the United States government also has a bounty on him.

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