A captured Boko Haram fighter says Abubakar

Shekau, leader of the sect, can no longer walk

effectively.

Mohammed Adam, a teenage fighter, who is

currently in custody of troops of 195 battalion of

the Nigerian army, said Shekau got injured

during an air bombardment on an insurgents’

camp in Tumbuktu, Sambisa forest, a Boko

Haram stronghold in Borno state.

In a video seen by TheCable, Adam was heard

saying Shekau can no longer lead any operation

physically.

Shekau, known for taunting the military in videos,

has not been seen on his feet lately as he has

released video where he is seen sitting or in

some cases, using audio to pass across his

message.

Adam was abducted by Boko Harma at the age

of 10. He was working on the farm in Firgi,

Gwoza local government area of Borno, when

Boko Haram fighters took him away forcefully.

The teenage fighter, who spent five years in

captivity, claimed he knows Shekau personally

and participated in several operations under the

command of the factional Boko Haram leader.

He also claimed to be among the Boko Haram

fighters who escorted the kidnapped Chibok

schoolgirls to a camp in Tumbuktu.

In a bid to confirm his claims of being a fighter,

Adam demonstrated combat skills he acquired

during training on weapons handling,

marksmanship and improvised explosive device

(IED) planting.

“I am a well-trained insurgents war front soldier

who specialised in weapons handling including

AK-47 riffles and GPMG as well as planting IED’s

along troops patrol route,” he said in Hausa.

“We are also given training on other

unconventional techniques to inflict heavy

casualties on troops.”

Adam claimed he participated in several Boko

Haram operations, including elimination of some

army engineers in the south of Borno.

He said he escaped from one of the camps in

Sambisa forest due to hardship and hunger,

resulting from cholera outbreak, which left over

500 militants and their families in critical

condition.

“I escaped with the intention of being rescued by

the troops of the Nigerian army which will in turn

afford me the opportunity of fulfilling my dreams

of going to school to acquire knowledge,” he

said.

He said that other escapees, mostly minors,

were in Banki in Bama local government area of

the state.

The militant group has continued to recruit

children who are trained to become field

soldiers.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the gallant troops of 158 Taskforce Battalion in Gubio, for the great loss their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Idris Yusuf. 

According to information gathered, on Saturday November 14, 2020, the late Lt. Col. Idris Yusuf slumped and died while addressing his troops in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. 

Lt. Col. Idris Yusuf is a National Hero like every other fallen soldier and we will remember him forever as a brave frontline commander. 

Early this year, he led his troops to rescue three students of Federal Government Girls College, Maiduguri, abducted by insurgents. 

The remains of Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Idris Yusuf will be buried today, Sunday November 15 at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. 

At this sad time, our sincere condolences to the wonderful family he left behind. 

May the soul of this fallen soldier Rest In Peace. Amen!