How fight against Boko Haram turned against me – Ba’a Lawan

Hamza Idris Daily Trust: What were you doing before your arrest? Ba’a Lawan: I’m the chairman of ‘Yan Gora,’ we’re popularly known as Civilian JTF. DT: When were you arrested? Ba’a Lawan: I was first arrested on January 2 this year and released on January 5 and was once again arrested on February 2 and […]

Hamza Idris

Daily Trust: What were you doing before your arrest?

Ba’a Lawan: I’m the chairman of ‘Yan Gora,’ we’re popularly known as Civilian JTF.

DT: When were you arrested?

Ba’a Lawan: I was first arrested on January 2 this year and released on January 5 and was once again arrested on February 2 and then released on February 5. Similarly, I was arrested on February 8th and taken to Abuja where I was interrogated at the Army headquarters. They thoroughly investigated me but did not found anything implicating and handed me over to the DSS for further questioning. They too did not found me wanting and discharged me.

DT: Why were you arrested in the first place?

Ba’a Lawan: I was told that I had many houses and herds of cow. They didn’t tell the real problem…you know, they were investigating.

DT: Did they ask you about your material possessions?

Ba’a Lawan: Yes; I told them I’ve a fish pond and a house in Pompomari with a plot of land in front; with some uncompleted shops attached. I sold half of the plot sometimes ago. I’ve been a business man before I ventured into vigilante activities. I used to travel to Cotonou (Benin Republic) for business and did not stop even when I started the Civilian JTF. I buy and sell cars; I’m also into properties, building and selling small houses. I told the DSS all this and they investigated.

DT: The story told in the media shortly after your arrest was that you had over N500m and that you worked closely with Boko Haram insurgents. Is that true?

Ba’a Lawan: Such is life and only God will judge. I know where I came from; people can say anything to bring you down.

DT: How was your life as a Civilian JTF?

Ba’a Lawan: I passed through untold nasty experiences. I’m an orphan; my father died long ago. It’s with the little inheritance I got from what my father left behind that I’m doing business to take care of my family. I was once into cattle business in Mubi in Adamawa State; many people at the Mubi cattle market know me very well.

DT: How was your first encounter with Boko Haram?

Ba’a Lawan: It was one of those days when I came to Maiduguri. Shortly thereafter, the Boko Haram fighters stormed our area in Hausari and shot a young trader and took his money. They also shot someone who was into Bureau de change business and took his money. I knew the Boko Haram attackers, they lived in the neighborhood. I called one of them by name and warned him to stop but he went ahead and fired his gun towards another bureau de change man but missed. That was when I summoned the courage and held him. I then drew the attention of soldiers who came and took him away. That was how I started and then one Modu Milo joined me. He was the one who always called soldiers whenever I arrest Boko Haram suspects. That was how other youths joined the movement.

DT: Does that mean you’re the first Civilian JTF?

Ba’a Lawan: Of course I am. I was the first to confront and arrest a gunman in Maiduguri but with all fairness, there were people who served as informants that led to the arrest of many Boko Haram fighters.

DT: What gave you the courage to confront somebody that has a gun when you were not armed?

Ba’a Lawan: I had a discussion with my mother before she died when drive-and-shoot by Boko Haram was common. I was disturbed by the manner many innocent people were being killed and therefore approached my mother. I told my mother that if I didn’t do something about it, one day all of us would be killed. She was not disposed to my plan of confronting the Boko Haram but that was how I started the Civilian JTF thing. Three months later, my mother died.

DT: How did you cope with life in security custody?

Ba’a Lawan: I would not say I suffered. I see what I passed through as test from Allah. It was destined that this would happen to me and I took my travails in good faith. 

DT: How did you get to know that some whistle blowers had led EFCC operatives to your house to excavate money?

Ba’a Lawan: It was after my release from detention that my wife told me that she was approached by some people with a search warrant. She told me that she told the EFCC operatives that her husband never worked with government and therefore could not have amassed illegal wealth. That notwithstanding, they went ahead and opened the soak away in the house and checked other places but could not find anything.  I wish I have such huge money! 

DT: Who do you think is behind your travails?

Ba’a Lawan: Only Allah knows them. I’m not suspecting anybody.

DT: Would you still continue with the Civilian JTF?

Ba’a Lawan: Of course I will. In fact I would be more committed now. My only hope is that the authorities would cooperate with me.

DT: Do you have any message for Nigerians?

Ba’a Lawan: We should all be cautious; the Boko Haram insurgency will not end in the nearest future because of vested interests. A lot of things are happening; I’m not the only one who has been victimized, many people who are committed to the restoration of peace, including some soldiers have suffered one form of victimization or the other. Politics should be separated from was against Boko Haram.

DT: Who do you think is playing politics with the crisis?

Ba’a Lawan: I cannot tell but I’ve seen what I’ve seen. I know I sacrificed for Borno and I know many soldiers, many DSS operatives who sacrificed for Borno but our stories are now pathetic.