Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed disturbing details from his conversation with Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, following the cleric’s visit to Boko Haram hideouts deep inside the Sambisa Forest.
Obasanjo explained that Sheikh Gumi narrated shocking encounters with extremely young fighters some reportedly under the age of 15 armed, drug-influenced, and claiming to possess both spiritual and physical fortification within the forest.
The former president recalled:
“I met with Sheikh Gumi during my tenure after he visited the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest. He told me that some of the boys were under 15 years old, holding weapons, influenced by hard substances, and claiming they had fortified themselves.
He also said that if any security personnel claimed they had gone into the area, they were not telling the truth,” Obasanjo stated.
Obasanjo stressed that Gumi’s testimony underscores just how difficult it is for security agencies to operate in these territories controlled by insurgents.
Child fighters and drug influence raise fresh alarms
Reports indicate that many insurgents are minors, intensifying concerns about child recruitment and radicalisation within Boko Haram’s ranks.
These young fighters are believed to be under the influence of dangerous substances, making them highly unpredictable and complicating any efforts at negotiation or rescue operations.
Obasanjo further suggested that security agencies may be overstating their access to the most dangerous sections of the forest, noting that such claims are likely exaggerated or false due to how heavily fortified and inaccessible the areas truly are.
A deeper look into ongoing insecurity
His remarks highlight the broader reality of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, as kidnappings and violent attacks continue to escalate across multiple regions.
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