Boko Haram terrorists prevent Gov Ibrahim Geidam from voting in Yobe

The Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Geidam, on Saturday failed to exercise his voting right having been prevented to do so by Boko Haram terrorists who attacked the city in the wee hours of the day.

Indications to this effect emerged via a statement released by Abdullahi Bego, the Director-General for Press Affairs to Yobe State Governor, who revealed that Ibrahim Geidam, the governor, failed to vote Saturday following reports of attacks on two communities in the early hours of Saturday.

Bego who revealed that the first attack occurred in Geidam town and the second at Bunu Yadi area of the state, noted that the governor failed to travel to his Bukarti ward close to Geidam town which is 230 kilometres away from the state capital to vote.

“This is because of the incident in Geidam town early in the day, which has already been brought under control and voting is now underway there, the security agencies would naturally seek to reinforce and increase security around the governor for him to travel to cast his vote.

“That increased security around the governor will mean that vital security resources that are needed elsewhere in the state would have to be diverted and allocated to the governor.

“We reckoned with that that is more appropriate at this particular time than devoting a large security contigent just to escort the governor to cast his vote.

“As things stand now, voting is going on successfully across the state and governor Gaidam is pleased and grateful to the people of for the large turnout at polling units throughout the state’’ the statement said.

The Army spokesman, Colonel Musa Sagir who described the attack on Geidam as a futile one, revealed that the situation was calm and peaceful and people have turned out to vote.

Meanwhile, the state government has commended the efforts made by security agents to ensure a peaceful and successful election in the state.

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