Boko Haram returns, as Gov Zulum decries renewed terrorist attacks, abductions in Borno
By OUR REPORTER
Under two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leaving office, the Boko Haram insurgency issues that he tackled, paving the way for restoration of peace and resettlement programmes in the North East Nigeria, has returned.
This was as Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Amara Zulum, on Tuesday, decried the renewed Boko Haram attacks, dislodgement of military formations and abduction of citizens in many communities of the state, almost on daily basis without challenge.
According to the Governor, the renewed attacks were a signal that the state was losing ground in the fight against terrorists.
Zulum noted that his administration had been very supportive to the military in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, leading to a relative peace in the last three years.
He, however, lamented that the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government Area, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza Local Government Area, among other related killing of innocent civilians and security personnel, called for serious concern.
Governor Zulum stated this at a special expanded security meeting attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies.
The gathering also had in attendance the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the Shehu of Bama, Emirs of Biu, Uba, Askira, Gwoza, while Shehu of Dikwa and Emir of Shani were represented.
Zulum commended the President Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against 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 bedeviling parts of the Sahelian Borno which shares international border with Republic of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The Governor said, “It is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities is almost on daily basis without confrontation, signaling that Borno State is losing ground.”
He maintained that recent attacks and other related killing of innocent civilians and security agents calls for serious concern, adding that the incidents are setback in fragile state 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,” Zulum stated.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Elkanemi hailed security agencies in the fight against terrorism, but emphasised that about three local government areas of Guzamala, Marte, Abbadam and some parts of Mobbar are still under the total control of the terrorists.
The traditional ruler stressed that most of these communities are without civil authority.
He also called on the federal government to reconstruct the dilapidated and deplorable Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri, Maiduguri- Dikwa- Ngala, Maiduguri- Monguno-Kukawa and Biu -Damaturu federal roads, among others.
