How Chibok kidnap ‘kingpin’ was nabbed in Maiduguri

Findings in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, reveal that Babuji Ya’ari, reportedly a ‘Boko Haram kingpin’ with a key role in the Chibok girls’ abduction, is well-known in his neighbourhood and at the market where he carries out his business. Many people in Maiduguri who know him – including family members – are however reluctant to […]

Findings in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, reveal that Babuji Ya’ari, reportedly a ‘Boko Haram kingpin’ with a key role in the Chibok girls’ abduction, is well-known in his neighbourhood and at the market where he carries out his business. Many people in Maiduguri who know him – including family members – are however reluctant to talk about him, especially after his photograph was splashed across many newspaper covers as a Boko Haram suspect.
A source near Gwange Bridge along the Monday Market general area in Maiduguri, where Ya’ari reportedly does business, said the suspect is popular. “I know Ya’ari very well,” the source said confidently.
“Before he was arrested, he travelled frequently. He buys goods here in Maiduguri and takes them to various local government areas of this state,” the source added. When prodded for more details, the source said he felt Ya’ari’s movements were “suspicious”.
The source also said Ya’ari, despite the frequent attacks by insurgents along the routes to Damboa, Bama Gwoza, was not afraid of following them. “He was unperturbed of the fact that the routes are dangerous. Whenever he pleases, he would load tricycles in a pick-up van and convey them to his customers in those no-go areas.”
But a source at Bakin Community debunked claims that Ya’ari is a member of the youth vigilantes also known as ‘Civilian JTF’ who work closely with security operatives. “It’s not true, he was never a vigilante,” he said.  He added: “In fact, there was a time the vigilantes accused him of being a Boko Haram member, but he denied the allegation. Since then, Ya’ari has had a strong dislike for the ‘Civilian JTF’, branding them political thugs.”
Another source, who pleaded for anonymity for security reasons, said he knows Ya’ari very well. “I’m sure the stories being bandied around that he is a member of the ‘Civilian JTF’ are lies. Anyone who knows Ya’ari will confirm to you that he has no business with the youth vigilante group.”
Weekly Trust gathered that Ya’ari lived at Dala Quarters in Bulumkutu Ward in Maiduguri. Hajiya Aisha, a cousin of Ya’ari’s pregnant wife, said she is not aware that he is a Boko Haram member. “He was arrested at his residence. Some people sent a boy to tell him they were looking for him,” she narrated, adding that he quickly went outside expecting business associates. His wife heard loud voices telling her husband to go with them and before she went outside to see for herself, they had zoomed off with him in their car. A neighbour suggested that they seemed to be security personnel in plain clothes.
Ya’ari’s in-law said when they heard about the arrest, they immediately contacted the leadership of the ‘Civilian JTF’ in the area. “Two days later, a leader of the vigilante group came back and told us back that Ya’ari’s case was a serious one, that it was beyond their power,” she said. She added that it was two days after the incident that a cousin of the suspect revealed that Ya’ari was being accused of being a Boko Haram member. “We are now praying that Allah vindicates him,” she said.
Alhaji Bello Danbatta, spokesman of the ‘Civilian JTF’ in Borno State told Weekly Trust that it hasn’t been established if the suspected was their member, or not. “We have been making enquiries, but for now, there is nothing that suggests he’s with us. This (‘Civilian JTF’) is a voluntary organization and we have many active members and some who are inactive. As soon as investigations are concluded, we will let the world know our position.”
A statement released by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja said Ya’ari has been coordinating deadly attacks in Maiduguri since 2011, including some on Customs and military locations, as well as the planting of IEDs. Reports quoting top security sources say Ya’ari is currently in Abuja, facing interrogation, specifically over the Chibok mass abduction.