Boko Haram: Over 700 civilian JTF members died defending Borno – Jubril Gunda

An ‎official report from the leadership of the local vigilante, popularly called Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri has reveals that about 700 members of the CJTF lost their lives while fighting alongside Nigerian Army.
This is out of about 23,000 registered membership of the Borno State civilian JTF, Barrister Jubril Gunda, legal adviser to the local vigilante group told newsmen on Friday, in Maiduguri.
He added that the number of deaths was part of the record they had between 2012 and 2017.

According to Gunda, in spite of the high casualty figure, the JTF remained resolute in their determination to ensure that they rid the state of Boko Haram elements and bring back the lost glory of the state as a home of peace.
“We are an NGO that started in 2012 out of the desire to protect our people. Our youth chose self help by carrying sticks and matches to pursue any terrorist without minding what such a terrorist is carrying.
“The youths say no more killing of innocent people and they successfully pushed the Boko Haram out of Maiduguri.

“if they did not have the heart to do so, Borno would have been a history by now. I mean it would be hard to see people going about their businesses as they are going about it now.
“We don’t have any other home than Borno, we are, therefore, working tirelessly to provide protection for our people by working against any form of threat by Boko Haram.
“It is sad to recall that many youths who sacrificed their comfort for this peace being enjoyed today are no more alive to take part in the relative peace.

“There is hardly any day an attack would occur without the life of a civilian JTF going with it, because they are the fences the Boko Haram would have to cross in order to hit any target”, he said.
He advised that it was necessary to train members of civilian JTF on the use of arms because they always moved along with the military in the front line during operations, adding that they had taken part in almost all the operations going on in Sambisa forest.
“Boko Haram members are not afraid of the military, they are afraid of the civilian JTF; they believe if a civilian JTF kills any of them, they will go to hell. Many of them have said this during interrogation”, Gunda said.