ABUJA — Prominent activist and former Director of the Civil Society Directorate of the defunct Presidential Campaign Council of Bola Tinubu, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, has alleged that former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff played a central role in the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking during a recent interview, Mohammed claimed that the extremist group was created under Sheriff’s political leadership in Borno State, alleging that its origins were rooted in political patronage before it evolved into a violent insurgency.
“Boko Haram was created by ex-Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff,” Mohammed alleged during the interview.
She argued that the group initially enjoyed political backing before eventually turning against the political establishment, leading to years of devastating insurgency across Nigeria’s North-East.
Mohammed’s comments come amid renewed political exchanges involving Sheriff and opposition figures, reigniting public debate over the historical origins of Boko Haram and the responsibility of political actors during the group’s formative years.
Ali Modu Sheriff has, however, consistently denied allegations linking him to the creation or sponsorship of Boko Haram. He has repeatedly maintained that he neither founded nor financed the insurgent group, and no court has convicted him of any offence relating to terrorism.
The origins of Boko Haram have remained the subject of public debate, academic research and official investigations for years, with differing accounts regarding the group’s early development and the role of political actors.
Mohammed’s remarks have since generated renewed discussion on social media and among political observers, with supporters and critics offering contrasting interpretations of the claims. As of the time of filing this report, Sheriff had not publicly responded to her latest allegations.
