Suleiman Mohammed, the groom and the celebrant of the wedding ceremony in Gwoza where suicide bomber attacked and killed people has refuted the report that he was a repentant terrorist prior to the incident.
The celebrant who is popularly known as Afro in the Gwoza community described the suicide bomb attacks on his wedding day as unfortunate, and said he lost eight of his associates that attended the ceremony, while several others were injured in the attacks.
The groom who wept as he and other victims were being condoled by Sen. Ali Ndume, however appealed to the military to deploy more troops to Gwoza to root out the remnants of the terrorists from their enclaves in the Mandara Mountain and other hideouts.
He said the youths of Gwoza are ever ready to join hands with the Nigerian military to end insurgency in the local government so that the people who are predominantly farmers can go back to their farms for food security in the area.
“I was never a member of the Boko Haram terrorists or a repentant terrorist. I was one of those who earlier returned to Gwoza town the moment the Nigerian military recaptured the town from the terrorists who then declared Gwoza a Caliphate.
“I am a man of the people, and everyone in Gwoza knows me as Afro. It was, however, unfortunate that the day I should have been happy was made a sad day for me. I lost eight members of my parliament to the attack while several others were injured. I also believed that the suicide bombers who attacked my wedding ceremony and other locations were destined to die that day.
“I am appealing to the Nigerian military to deploy more troops to Gwoza so that we can partner them to defeat Boko Haram terrorists so that our resilient people can return back fully to their farms,” Mohammed said.
Condoling the groom and other victims of the attacks who had gathered at the scene of the suicide attack, Sen. Ndume who had visited 32 homes of the deceased persons for sympathy and condolences, urged the people to put what had happened behind and forge ahead against the terrorists.
He commended residents for defying the threat from the terrorists to go about farming activities which according to him is what Gwoza people are known for.
He commended Nigerian military for protecting the people in their daily farming activities.
