The Nigerian military has raised an alert about a new strategy adopted by the terrorist group Boko Haram to recruit new members as it is said to provide loans to unsuspecting youths who are then recruited as followers.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the acting Director, Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, indicated that the terrorist group is offering loans to young enterpreneurs and artisans in the North east, particularly targeting butchers, traders, tailors, beauticians and other vocational entrepreneurs

“The major targets of the unholy business engagement are youths in the North East, especially the butchers, traders, tailors, beauticians and other vocational entrepreneurs who could be easily enticed with such loan without paying attention to sundry inherent dangers associated with the acceptance of such goodies from this satanic group or unfamiliar source,” Abubakar noted.

The defence spokesman said after collecting the loan, the beneficiaries are given the option of “either joining the group or risk being killed if they fail to pay the loan as at when due, whereas the payment has been surreptitiously programmed to fail by the benefactor, the Boko Haram.”

Abubakar reasoned that the terrorist sect was desperate to recruit new members having been decimated by the military onslaught of the last few months and warned Nigerians, particularly those in the North East, to be alert to the new trick of the group.

He said that Nigerians should be “guided to avoid loan or financial assistance from non-conventional source but from conventional financial institutions such as banks, organised trade unions or institutionalised savings and loans establishments,” adding that “acting otherwise may lead to painful and untimely death from the blood-thirsty Boko Haram terrorists.”