A major political shocker has emerged as former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has publicly alleged that Vice President Kashim Shettima was the real mastermind behind the creation of the terrorist group Boko Haram.
Sheriff, who has long been accused of having links with the sect during his time as governor, made the explosive revelation while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday. He stated that contrary to popular belief, he had no hand in the emergence of the deadly insurgent movement that has devastated Nigeria’s northeast for over a decade.
The former governor claimed that he initially created a youth empowerment structure to engage jobless youths, but that after he left office, Shettima, who succeeded him as governor, politicized and militarized the group, turning it into a monster that later became Boko Haram.
This latest revelation is expected to spark intense political debate and renewed scrutiny of the origins of Boko Haram a group that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced millions since 2009
Political observers say Sheriff’s statement could reignite old rivalries between the two Borno powerbrokers, both of whom have been at the center of long-standing controversies over their roles in the early days of the insurgency.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has yet to respond to Sheriff’s allegations, but insiders suggest the Vice President’s camp may issue a formal reaction in the coming days.
If confirmed, Sheriff’s claims could reshape the narrative surrounding one of Nigeria’s most devastating security crises and further deepen divisions within the ruling political establishment.
