By Gbenga Akingbule
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday, appealed to the Federal Government for Increased support to tackle renewed Boko Haram attacks in different parts of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Shehu of Borno, his eminence, Alh. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi also made a similar plea and revealed that three local government councils are not habited by his subjects due to fear of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Over the past months, communities in Borno have suffered relentless assaults with insurgents targeting villages and military outposts, particularly in Sabon Gari, Wajiroko, and Wulgo.
Both leaders agree that the federal government must take immediate action through various security agencies to address the situation before it escalates.
This was disclosed during an expanded security meeting held at the Government House, Maidugurithestatecapital, where Zulum urged the federal government to prioritise the security of the North East, particularly Borno State.
“While we appreciate the tremendous support from the federal government and the military, we also want to state that with the current focus in the fight against insecurity shifted from the northeast, all the gains we have recorded so far will be reversed.
“In recent times, Borno State has been witnessing sporadic attacks from Boko Haram insurgents; many military formations were dislodged, such as in Wulgo, Wajiroko and Sabon Gari, among others. It seems we are losing ground.
“Therefore, we want to appeal to the federal government to ensure that the northeastern part of the country receives the desired attention. It seems the focus of the Nigerian Army and the Ministry of Defence is not on the northeast.”
Governor Zulum stated that the northeast, particularly Borno State, which is neighbouring three countries in the troubled Sahel region, deserves more attention from the federal government in its resolve to fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
Zulum further stressed, “The recent escalation of Boko Haram attacks across the state is a matter of utmost concern. There is an urgent need for aggressive military action and actionable intelligence to counter the insurgency. The recent attacks on Sabongari, Damboa, Wulgo, Baga, and Monguno point to the need to up our ante in confronting BH insurgency decisively and swiftly.
“I call on our armed forces to not only mount checkpoints and guard our towns and villages, but I also call on our armed forces to take the battle to the enemy. We should not grant breathing space to the terrorists to regroup, rearm, and carry out attacks on our territory. By engaging in relentless patrols, picketing, and decapitation missions, our troops should defeat and end the insurgency in time so that our recovery plan will progress without let or hindrance”, he said.
The governor restated his commitment to continually support the military and other security agencies working in Borno State to achieve their objectives of fighting insurgency in the state.
Prof Zulum noted, “Borno State government will continue to work closely with the armed forces to execute our development and peacebuilding programmes. We are deeply conscious of the nexus between development, security, and peace. Hence, as we invest in critical infrastructure, we are also opening new avenues for our citizens to engage in agriculture and sustainable livelihood.
He added, “All these will not be possible without resourcing and empowering our security agencies to secure our territory and safeguard citizens’ lives and property. My government will continue to support our defence and security agencies while pushing them to perform better when encountering terrorism, insurgency, and criminality.”
Briefing journalists after the closed-door session of the security meeting, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, noted that among the resolutions at the end of the meeting, the security council had expressed support for Borno State Government’s resettlement efforts.
