I Disguised as Woman to Escape Being Indoctrinated into Boko Haram – Father DMW
Muhammadu Bashir Abdulai, widely known as Father DMW, a popular Nigerian comedian, has recently shared a chilling account of how he escaped from the clutches of the notorious terrorist group Boko Haram. In a candid interview with Vanzu TV, he narrated the heart-stopping journey from his hometown, Maiduguri, Borno State, to Lagos, where he sought refuge to avoid being forcibly indoctrinated into the extremist group.
According to Father DMW, the terrorists were relentlessly recruiting and arming young men to join their ranks. Those who resisted were met with brutal violence and even death. Fearing for his life, he hatched a daring plan to disguise himself and flee to safety. Wearing a hijab and adopting feminine features, including makeup, breasts, and a feminine posterior, he managed to conceal his identity from the militants.
In his own words, spoken in Pidgin English during the interview, he said, “Boko Haram dem go and kill everybody. Like me, if dem see me, they just give me gun, if I never follow them, they will now start to kill me. When they entered, I wear hijab like woman. Do make-up, put breasts, y*nsh, everything to escape. Because if they know say you be man, if dem commot that hijab, no be shoot dem go shoot you o, na knife dem go cut you.”
Upon reaching Lagos, he began a new life as a bike rider, seeking anonymity and safety in the bustling city. Fate, however, took a fortuitous turn when he caught the attention of the renowned Nigerian singer Davido, who became instrumental in his rise to fame. Father DMW’s encounter with Davido led to him running errands for the artist and eventually gaining popularity on social media platform Instagram.
Father DMW’s story sheds light on the harrowing experiences faced by those living in regions plagued by insurgency and the extraordinary lengths some must go to escape such dangerous circumstances. His resilience and determination to survive and build a new life serve as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for hope and transformation.
To avoid being indoctrinated into the Boko Haram terrorist group, Father DMW had to dress up as a woman to flee from Maiduguri to Lagos.
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) July 23, 2023
In Lekki Lagos, he became a commercial bike rider (okada man) and found himself running errands for Davido and team.
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