FG lying to Nigerians, half Borno under Boko Haram – Senator

A lie has been put to claims by the Federal Government that terror group, Boko Haram no longer control any part of Nigerian territory and that they have been “technically defeated”, as the Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, Saturday, said the insurgent group still have control of 50 percent of Borno State.

Garbai stated this when he visited Dalori Saturday evening on a condolence visit to the town over last week’s slaughter of about 65 people in the town by the insurgents, the truth about the accomplishment of the military in Borno State was never truly spoken as the Boko Haram and the Nigerian nation are presently administering about the same territories in the state.

Garbai further said that both the military and Boko Haram have full control of three separate local governments in the state and share control in all the 21 other local governments.

“They actually got the signal a few days before the attack that the insurgents were likely to attack them, they reported to the constituted authorities but nothing was done.
I will like to appeal to the military to intensify their effort in ensuring they beef up security around the villages and communities that share borders with Maiduguri metropolis. It is very important and more so that this place is porous, there could be attack from any direction”, he said.

According to the Senator, it amounts to a lie and misconception to say that the insurgents have largely been overpowered by the military.

“It is a wrong assumption that most of the local governments in Borno are recaptured from the Boko Haram. In reality, this is not true in the sense that apart from Maiduguri Metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar, these are the three local government that are under the occupation of the Nigerian government where the military and police are maintaining law and order.

“Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hither-lands are still controlled by the insurgents.”

Throwing more light on the situation in the state, Garbai said Konduga, which was liberated still has many communities in the local government area under the insurgents.

He also said though Gwoza town has been liberated, the local government still has six wards occupied by the insurgents.

“We should not live under the illusion that Boko Haram are decimated or weaken, these are not reality and neither a true reflection of the reality. The reality is that most of the local governments in Borno are partially occupied by Boko Haram.”

The Senator also counseled against the proposed reconstruction, rehabilitation and relocation in the troubled areas, saying it was inadvisable at least for now.

“If the people are moved back to their homelands you are making them vulnerable to attack. Unless you provide maximum security and return of law and order in these areas, relocating these people would be endangering their lives.”

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