How Boko Haram Began, By Borno PDP

Daily Trust

23 November 2011

How Boko Haram Began, By Borno PDP

Nuruddeen M. Abdallah

The Yusufiyya Movement, better known as Boko Haram, came to prominence in Borno State when it helped to bring Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to power in 2003 and the current troubles began when it fell out with him, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the state Alhaji Baba I. Basharu said in Abuja yesterday. He spoke at Media Trust's corporate head office when he led a 10-member delegation on a visit.

According to the PDP leader, the late Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf was the very man who led a "Taliban" uprising in Yobe State early this decade and fled into exile after a violent clash with policemen. He said it was Sheriff's deputy, Adamu Dibal and his Secretary to the State Government [SSG], Baba Njidda, who negotiated for Yusuf's return from Saudi Arabia.

Basharu said when Ali Sheriff was working to snatch Borno State from then Governor Mala Kachallah earlier this decade, he entered into a pact with the Yusufiyya Movement with a promise to implement Shari'a rule in Borno State. ...Read on