Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader
Nigeria Defence Headquarters raised an alarm on Wednesday that information available to it indicated that Boko Haram terrorist group is now advancing loans to traders and artisans across North East of the country as a bait to attract new members.
Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, acting Director Defence Information who said this in a statement revealed that the insurgent group is using the loans as a means of recruiting unsuspecting youths into their fold.
He added that young entrepreneurs and artisans in the North East as key target of the clandestine recruitment drive.
“The major targets of the unholy business engagement are youths in the North East, especially the butchers, traders, tailors, beauticians and other vocational entrepreneurs who could be easily enticed with such loan without paying attention to sundry inherent dangers associated with the acceptance of such goodies from this satanic group or unfamiliar source,” said Abubakar.
After receiving such loans, General Abubakar said, the beneficiaries are given the option of either joining the group or risk being killed if they fail to pay the loan as at when due, whereas the payment has been surreptitiously programmed to fail by the benefactor, the Boko Haram.
“It is pertinent to state that having been effectively decimated and degraded, the remnant or surviving splinter groups of Boko Haram are desperate to recruit more people into their ranks and files as a result of sustained onslaught against them by the troops.
“The Defence Headquarters hereby advises the general public, especially those in the North East, to constantly be weary and conscious of various tactics of the desperate Boko Haram.
“They should be guided to avoid loan or financial assistance from non-conventional source but from conventional financial institutions such as banks, organised trade unions or institutionalised savings and loans establishments. …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
