Igbos, Yorubas, Tivs, Ijaws, Others Join Civilian JTF.

Apart from the Kanuris, Shuwa Arabs, the Hausas and other minority tribes of Borno extraction who are indigenous to the state, there other ethnic groups from other parts of Nigeria In Maiduiguri. There are also people who come from neighboring countries. But they have all united on a common mission – the ongoing manhunt of members of the Jama’atu Ahli Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram.


So enthusiastic are the Igbos, Yorubas, Tivs, Ijaws and Nupes that no one thinks twice before enlisting into the group launching the offensive against the Boko Haram insurgents .

Weekly Trust learnt that these non-indigenes follow the natives to all nooks and crannies of Maiduguri and neighboring states in the manhunt. It was gathered that the Civilian JTF, which the military authorities prefer to call patriotic youth vigilante groups (PYVG) now have the courage of travelling to as far as Abuja, Kaduna, Kano to track down fleeing suspected insurgents and take them back to Maiduguri. The development has instilled confidence in the residents of Maiduiguri as well as increase social and economic activities.

Chibueze Inuele who hails from Enugu State said he has no any other place, other than Maiduguri and will do everything possible to salvage it from total collapse. “I am now 29 years old. My parents brought me here when I was barely nine years old. I grow up in Bolori in the heart of the metropolis,” he said. Inuele, who deals in rugs and building materials, said he is also a student of the University of Maiduguri.

“Even when the security situation deteriorated completely in Maiduguri, I could not runaway, despite the fact that my parents and a greater number of our people had relocated to the east,” he said. With the turn of events, he revealed, most of his people are coming back to Maiduguri to continue their businesses. “Prominent dealers of assorted goods are back,” he said. Findings reveal that the youth vigilante groups are gathering support from most residents in the fight against the insurgents. As it is now, the number of people joining them keeps increasing daily. They have also formed many sectors, akin to what obtains in the real military joint task force (JTF) in the state. It is observed that residents go about with sticks, knives and other weapons to search for the Boko Haram insurgents.

It is no longer news that at night, residents of the metropolis, both indigenes and non indigenes gather on streets and in front of houses to keep vigil, a development which brings back the old days in the town, when people moved about freely, throughout the night, completely unperturbed.

Weekly Trust learnt that areas occupied by non-indigenes like the Chezchoin, Pompomari, Wulari among others are actively taking part in the vigilante activities. Some residents told Weekly Trust that they decided to join in the hunt because of the commendable work the civilian JTF are doing which has drastically reduced the evil activities of the Boko Haram members. Kelechi Peter, a resident of Pompomari said, “we are happy with what is happening now, that is why some of us who are not natives of this place decided to join in apprehending these guys.

They have committed lots of atrocities. “If you could remember, many of our kinsmen have also been killed. Now we are not afraid of anything. We strongly believe that God allowed us to live this long in order to partake in the salvation struggle,” she said. John Mike who resides at Chezcoin, said “the era of fear is over as everybody both Christians and Muslims have risen against the insurgents. They have killed many people from both religions. I think what is happening now is divine intervention,” he said. Some leaders of the youth vigilante groups said the rise against the insurgents was even flagged up by some people from outside Borno State. “The ‘revolution’ started at Babban Layi which is like a rallying points for all ethnic nationalities and every Kanuri regard them as citizens and indigenes of Borno state.

It is a fight against a common enemy and the credit must go to everybody,” the leader, who does not want his names in print, said. “Most of the people participating in the vigilante work have been injured in one way or the other. The insurgents had reached its crescendo and what we are seeing now is like saying bye-bye to all the troubles,” another sector commander of the youths said. At Gwange I, II, III and IV where there is noticeable presence of Hausas and Shuwa-Arabs, the people have risen to the occasion.