Army uncovers Boko Haram recruitment link on social media

The Nigerian army says it has uncovered social media accounts used by a faction of the Boko Haram group to recruit new members.

According to NAN, Murtala Usman, artillery commander of operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this while speaking at the ongoing Nigerian army combat support training week in Maiduguri.

Usman said insurgents from the Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram group were recruiting new members on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Instagram and Youtube, adding that the social media accounts had 2,000 followers.

He added that the army discovered this while interrogating a “highly-placed Boko Haram commander known as Malu-Mamman Barde’”, who was tracked and apprehended 40km South of Rann area in Kala-Balge local government area of Borno state.

“Barde is among the most wanted Boko Haram suspect that had committed so many atrocities against humanity,” he said.

“Through the suspect’s mobile phone, we found several videos soliciting finance for the group. We also found offensive some other videos where Barde was seen preaching Jihad and the ideology of the group.

“Most of Barde’s pictures were that of Abu-Mosad Albarnawi and other Boko Haram fighter posing with anti-air craft guns, rockets and Boko Haram flag.”