As a seller of smoked fish caught by the Bozo, Bilal, 37, was struggling to make ends meet.
The fish trade, one of the driving forces of the local economy, had plummeted due to the security situation, so when a friend offered him a job, Bilal didn't think twice.
"I left for the bush to meet them via an intermediary. They suggested I stay. During the first three months, I found friends from childhood, from the madrassa [Islamic school] there.
"I used to run the errands: water, cleaning motorbikes. The base was in the forest, it was very organised.
"I was convinced that these people they call jihadists had more respect for humans than the army. They didn't believe themselves above the rules, contrary to the soldiers. The people they attack don't respect sharia law.
"It's a battle against the way everything gets shoved together, against the injustice of the state.
"There were people from all communities in the group but many Fulani, naturally. I'm Bamanan [Bambara].
"I realised they didn't have the ability to apply sharia as they said. Some used to steal, they attacked villages for food and cattle.
"I went to see the judge in the camp but he didn't want to do anything.
"When I fell asleep at night, I would analyse my life. I think I've always been a good person. So could I take part in attacks on people just to eat?
"I thought about my wife whom I missed. When we married, her family entrusted her to me. In fact, now I'd abandoned her.
"Over several nights, I convinced myself a little more. In order to leave (the group), I went to see a marabout (Islamic guide) during a shopping trip I had to do. He helped me."
Bilal always looks wary, he has piercing eyes and lives anonymously in a big central town where he is learning stone masonry. His wife refuses to see him.