There have been distrust and suspicion amongst the top ISWAP leadership after the removal of Abu Musab Al-Barnawi and the killing of Mamman Nur. Under Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram operated a centralised structure with command and control from Shekau. From your interactions with your source(s) in ISWAP and/or Boko Haram or observations, what would you say they want or believe to be their current goal? Boko Haram and ISWAP use twisted ideology as a cover to exert power and control in the areas they operate within. Lastly, those vulnerable youths who have not joined Boko Haram should not be disadvantaged – they should be empowered and given better alternatives of living, else you will have a scenario of graduating 10 as part of the amnesty and making 20 to be recruited into Boko Haram.

Source: Punch September 12, 2020 23:03 UTC