Boer also known as Yohanna Maigona is his Hausa name. He was born in Jos and did his secondary school there. He started speaking Hausa before English. The popular singer MI Abaga's mum was/is his adopted sister.

He was almost killed in the Jos crisis of 2003.

Meanwhile, the man cannot be said to be a Nigerian citizen yet since neither of his parents or grandparents was Nigerian, and merely giving birth to in Nigeria doesn't automatically give one citizenship status.

Boer's application for citizenship last year was rejected.