Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has provided a detailed account of his discussion with Sheikh Ahmad Gumi following the cleric’s visit to Boko Haram strongholds deep within the Sambisa Forest, shedding light on disturbing realities about the insurgent group and the challenges facing Nigeria’s security forces.
According to Obasanjo, Sheikh Gumi disclosed that many of the fighters he encountered were extremely young, some reportedly under the age of 15. These children were armed and allegedly under the influence of hard substances, making them unpredictable and extremely dangerous. Gumi also revealed that the fighters claimed to have fortified themselves both spiritually and physically within the dense and heavily guarded forest.
“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,” Obasanjo said, adding that Gumi insisted that any claim by security personnel of entering the area was likely false or exaggerated due to the inaccessibility of the forest.
Obasanjo highlighted that this revelation underscores the extreme difficulties confronting Nigeria’s security agencies. The use of children as fighters and the reliance on hard substances among insurgents make the task of negotiation, containment, and combat operations exceptionally challenging. The fortified and concealed nature of the Sambisa Forest further complicates counterterrorism efforts, making it almost impossible for conventional forces to fully penetrate these areas safely.
The former president also emphasized that the recruitment of minors by Boko Haram reflects a deeply troubling trend in which children are exploited, radicalized, and thrust into violent environments, a situation that poses severe humanitarian and security concerns for the nation.
Obasanjo’s discussion with Gumi paints a grim picture of the ongoing insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram continues to kidnap, kill, and terrorize communities. He stressed that understanding the reality on the ground is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat the insurgency and protect civilians, particularly vulnerable populations like children who are being forcibly recruited into the conflict.
In conclusion, the former president’s remarks illuminate the dire and complex nature of the fight against Boko Haram. They serve as a warning that conventional reports from security forces may not fully reflect the challenges on the ground, and that the insurgents’ strategies, including the use of minors and fortified positions, require urgent and carefully coordinated responses from government authorities and security agencies.
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