Our ex-fighters now serving in Army, DSS — Civilian JTF boss

7 years ago

Our ex-fighters now serving in Army, DSS — Civilian JTF boss

Borno State Coordinator of the Volunteer Young Vigilance Group, also known as the Civilian Joint Task Force, Abba Aji Kalli, tells KAYODE IDOWU the challenges of the group and how to end the Boko Haram crisis among others

What was the motive behind the formation of the Volunteer Young Vigilance Group, also known the Civilian Joint Task Force?

What really happened was that we (the group) are a child of necessity. We (Borno residents) were not safe in the hands of the security operatives and we were not safe in the hands of the insurgents. If there was any bomb blast, if the security operatives came here, innocent people would be arrested; innocent people would die. We felt (this was so) because the security people were strangers to the town. We know most of the Boko Haram members because we are living in the same neighbourhood with them. Thus we started pointing them out.

Are you a founding member of the group and what post do you hold?

Yes. I am a foundation member and I am the commander in charge of Sector Five.

What were your contributions to the formation of the group?

The group was started by our President, Lawan Jafa’ar, and he was joined by other youths. We felt we should not operate without any guidelines, that is, rules of operation. Then we designed some guidelines. First, for anyone to join the CJTF, they must not be less than 18 years old and it is voluntary. After this, the youths would be assembled at the place of the ward, district or village head. When the individual is willing to stay, they swear an oath. If you are a Christian, we shall give you the Holy Bible to take an oath and if you are a Muslim we give you the Holy Quran to swear an oath. We have about 10 conditions. One, you will not accuse or implicate an innocent person who is not associated with Boko Haram because of whatever differences between you and them. Two, you must produce a member of Boko Haram, no matter how close they are to you; even if they are your family members or brothers. Three, you will not extort money from anybody or take anybody’s property. These are the three main conditions we put before any intending member.

We give these conditions because it is almost imposible to handle so many youths without conditions. One may expect them to do good things but some will turn around to do other things. So, with the oath, we control most of the members.

How did the public and the military accept the group?

When we came out, the military welcomed us hundred per cent and the community also supported us hundred per cent. When we started this movement, nobody was sponsoring us, nobody was giving us support but the members of the community were giving us things. Some would give us money to buy fuel, while others would give us bread from their bakeries and so on.

How and when did the state government come in?

The intervention of the state government was through His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno, who felt what the youths had been doing was very encouraging and they should not just be left on their own. He spoke with the governor and he (the governor) felt it was high time he moved in so that he could help the CJTF. From there, the governor provided for us. Also, the Borno State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the member representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Council in the House of Representatives, Rahis AbdulKadir, are some of our financiers.

What was the support from the state government and that of the Shehu?

The Shehu sometimes called and gave us financial assistance and at other times he gave us advice and everybody knows that the state government has taken up the burden of the CJTF. The state government provides us with mobility, free medical care and so on. The governor also created a scheme called Borno Youth Empowerment Scheme where about 1,800 of our members were trained and also given monthly allowance.