The Borno State Government has disclosed that more over 95% of Boko Haram supporters, particularly the founding members, have died or surrendered.
According to the Daily Trust, Brig. Gen. Ishaq Abdullahi (Rtd), Special Adviser to the Borno State Government on Security Affairs, stated this during an interview in Maiduguri on Sunday.
Abdullahi added that the leadership of the lethal gang was in disarray, with only around ten of the founding members remaining alive.
He said that many top commanders died as a result of leadership conflicts between Islamic State’s West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters and Boko Haram terrorists loyal to the late Abubakar Shekau, who died in 2021.
“One of their leaders said out of 300 of them that started the Boko Haram sect in pre-2009, less than 10 people could be alive now. Even the remaining 10 leaders have scattered due to the game of powers.
“Some are dead as a result of snake bites in the bush, some died as a result of military actions, some drowned during rainy seasons, some died due to gunshot wounds, some as a result of massive surrendering we have witnessed in the last two years.
“Some as a result of in-fighting among them because of the leadership positions, especially after the death of Shekau and that has led to the death of more than 90 per cent of the die-hards with Boko Haram ideology.
“On the other hand, many top commanders of ISWAP have lost their lives to several crises among them,” he said.