I Did Not Say Rich Nigerians Were Joining Boko Haram – Osinbajo

Boko Haram

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied saying that “rich Nigerians” were joining the Boko Haram sect.

The Vice President, had in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, Tuesday, disclosed the intention of the Federal Government to establish a communications center to counter Boko Haram’s ideologies. “I have seen people who are well-to-do being recruited into terrorism,” the statement had said in part.

Reacting to how his statement was reported, Akande noted in a statement on Wednesday, that the Vice President was quoted out of context.

“Comments of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, in the […] press release were taken out of context by some of the papers and some of the reports misleading.

“There was no mention of “Rich Nigerians” anywhere in the release as some media reported. There was no reference to Nigerians at all. Also the Vice President was not raising any alarm of any kind.

“The Vice President was talking about the mindless ideologies of violent extremism and terrorism, and not about mindless people as some of the reports stated.

“He said such ideologies drew different people including those who were lured into terrorism with money and those who are well-to-do.

“This clarification is to set public records straight,” the statement by Akande read.