Ansaru, a Boko Haram faction, is said to have begun “extensive recruitment” of citizens in communities in Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State, North-west, Nigeria.
Sources say the insurgents invaded Damari, Farin Ruwa, Kwasa Kwasa, Kuyello, Gobirawa, Tabanni, Kutemeshi and Kazage villages in a bid to conduct the recruitment of locals into their sect under the guise of celebrating Sallah with them.
News Central gathered that the insurgents distributed Eid gifts; biscuits to them and also performed motorcycle stunts to entertain the villagers.
In an attempt to encourage villagers to join them, it was said that they issued a five-page pamphlet titled ‘We are not Boko Haram but Ansaru,’ flash CDs, and other materials about its actions.
“Whoever believes in Shahada and faces Qibla to pray is considered a Muslim to us and so deserves to be protected just as we would protect ourselves and our family members,”
”We will celebrate with him in times of happiness and mourn with him in terms of sorrow. He is free from our harm and we are not going to hand him over to his enemies.
“Planting bombs in markets, mosques and motor parks among other places is not what we believe in because, in these places, the majority of the casualties are the poor people. We are not out for materialism because if this is what we wanted, we would have remained in our parents’ houses to enjoy the world. We are also not out to seek for positions or support any political party or tribe or any worldly thing,” the group reportedly said in the pamphlet.
A resident was quoted as saying the presence of the militant group would deter bandits from attacking their communities.
“They visited the Kuyello area, Tabanni, Kutemeshi and also my village, which is Kazage to join the people in the Sallah celebration,” the resident was quoted as saying.
“They participated in motorcycle stunts within the communities; nobody was harmed and they warned against indulging in any dangerous play. They equally preached and shared biscuits to the people.”
Muhammadu Isa, a resident of Kuyello, reportedly said many youths have expressed interest in joining the group.
“There are some communities where members of Ansaru provide access to residents to go to their farms and guard the residents while at farms,” Isa was quoted as saying.
