A repentant Boko Haram member, Shettima Mohammed, has strongly rejected the use of religion as justification for violent extremism, insisting that such actions are driven by manipulation, personal interests, and distorted interpretations of Islamic teachings rather than authentic religious doctrine.
Mohammed made this known during an interview on News Central Television on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, while speaking with journalists at a rehabilitation camp where former insurgents are undergoing deradicalisation, psychological counselling, and reintegration into society under a government-supported programme.
Speaking candidly about his past involvement and the ideology that once influenced his decisions, he said his understanding of religion at the time was shaped by misleading narratives presented by extremist recruiters who selectively interpreted religious texts to justify violence.
According to his words, “There is nowhere in the Quran that commands people to kill others because of religious differences. What we are witnessing is driven more by personal interests and manipulation than by true religious teachings,” he said.
Mohammed explained that many individuals who find themselves in extremist groups are often introduced to ideology in a way that appears religiously justified, but in reality serves the interests of those who recruit and control them.
According to him, such leaders exploit vulnerable youths by presenting a distorted version of faith, promising purpose, belonging, and reward, while concealing the destructive consequences of violence and insurgency.
He noted that his own experience within the group eventually led him to question the ideology he had accepted, particularly after witnessing the impact of attacks on innocent civilians and communities affected by years of insecurity.
Mohammed stressed that what is often presented as religious obligation is, in his view, a calculated form of manipulation used to sustain violence and control recruits.
He further added that one of the most important lessons from his rehabilitation process has been the realization that true religious teachings do not support the killing of innocent people or the destruction of communities.
“I now understand that many of us were misled. We were told things that made violence seem acceptable, but in reality it was all based on manipulation and false interpretations,” he said during the interview…….See More
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