Boko Harams Invade Islamic schools to recruit young pupils.

The Federal Government warned yesterday that following the progressive clampdown on the operations of the Boko Haram sect and the arrest of several of its ringleaders, the sect has resorted to recruiting young adherents across Islamic schools in the country in a desperate bid to reinforce its fast depleting ranks.

The government also said military authorities have finally confirmed the link between Boko Haram sect and AL-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb region of the continent.

Raising the alarm, government said members of the sect are already infiltrating some Islamic centres in the country with the aim of indoctrinating and recruiting young pupils to expand its membership base.

Speaking during a meeting with Federal and State security administrators in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office (SSO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Esther Gonda, warned that this emerging antic of the sect was capable of confusing the unsuspecting pupils and distorting their mindset against the state and constitutional values.

She described the development as very “disturbing”, while calling on state governments, security agencies and relevant stakeholders to be on the look-out, to curtail the extremist agenda of the rampaging sect.

“There are disturbing reports about the infiltration of Boko Haram sect members in some Islamic centres. It is our assessment that the indoctrination of pupils at their formative ages could confuse them as to the practice of true religion and erode their loyalty to the constitution and national goals, as well as provide the sect with the support base it needs to pursue its extremist agenda. It is therefore necessary to monitor religious preachings, especially against this emerging trend of teaching pupils ‘false doctrines’”, Gonda said.

While stressing that the incessant bombing attacks of the Boko Haram sect are carefully orchestrated towards national disintegration, she canvassed a synergy of efforts among security agencies at the state level as a deterrent against unpatriotic elements in the country.

She sought the mass media’s cooperation towards a vigorous public enlightenment campaign to raise security awareness among the citizenry, and urged Nigerians especially those at the grassroots to assist security agencies by reporting any suspicious movements or motives to appropriate authorities.

“Boko Haram are members of our communities and we want a situation where people will alert the security agencies and report any untoward or abnormal behaviours in their families. Security agencies have the statutory duty to defend lives and property of the citizens, but they are not spirits. They can only discharge their duties when they receive useful information from members of the public,” Gonda said.