Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State lamented on Tuesday about the daily killings, dislodgement of military formations, and abduction of people amid the recent rampage of Boko Haram terrorists in the state.
Zulum insisted that the frequency of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities—almost on a daily basis—without any confrontation signaled that Borno State is losing ground.
BusinessDay reported that the terrorists’ onslaught against four military formations has been exacerbated by the activities of insurgents.
The recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government Area, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, and Izge in Gwoza Local Government Area, along with other related killings of innocent civilians and security personnel, call for serious concern and represent a setback for the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.
Zulum noted that his administration has been very supportive of the military in its fight against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, which has led to relative peace over the last three years. In his opening remarks, Zulum commended the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and the security agencies for their unwavering support in combating Boko Haram.
He noted that more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Zulum stated this at a Special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM), “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on daily basis without confrontation signaled that Borno State is loosing ground.
”As you are all aware that my administration has been very supportive to the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to a relative peace in the last three years, it is disheartening to note the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern, and it is a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.
”In as much as Borno Government under my leadership commend the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.”
Also contributing on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Shehu of Borno praised the security agencies for their efforts in the fight against terrorism. However, he emphasised that approximately three local government areas—Guzamala, Marte, Abadam, and some parts of Mobbar—are still under the total control of Boko Haram, stressing that most of these communities lack civil authority.
He also called on the federal government to reconstruct the dilapidated and deplorable federal roads, including Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri, Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala, Maiduguri-Monguno-Kukawa, and Biu-Damaturu, among others.
The Special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM) was attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Abubakar Haruna; Sector Commanders; the Commissioner of Police; heads of other security agencies; the Shehu of Borno, Alh. Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi; the Shehu of Bama; and Emirs of Biu, Uba, Askira, and Gwoza. The Shehu of Dikwa and Emir of Shani were absent.
