Senator faults military claims, says one Borno LG not yet liberated from Boko Haram

Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has faulted claims by the military authorities that all 27 local government areas in Borno state have been liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.

The senator who represents Borno North District insisted that Marte, a local government in his senatorial zone was yet to be totally liberated from the Boko Haram.

Speaking at the special town hall meeting on the security situation in the northeast in Maiduguri, Monday, he said Marte in northern Borno still remained inaccessible to the civilians.

“Marte has not been totally liberated,” he declared, urging the military to step up efforts to clear the remnants of Boko Haram.

He also said some of the communities liberated were still confronted with restrictions by the military especially in commercial and farming activities.

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“Those communities liberated are still having some challenges like restriction of commercial activities in market farms,” he said.

Marte located along the shore of Lake Chad shares border with Chad Republic.

The senator also urged the Federal Government to address the food needs of those taking refuge in neighbouring African nations of Cameroon and Chad.

However, Governor Kashim Shettima said that the incessant suicide bombings by Boko Haram in some parts of the Northeast, particularly Borno state, is a sign of weakness on the part of the Islamic sect.

He said the counter terrorism of the Nigerian Military is yielding result, which he said is gradually returning peace in the Northeastern states and Borno in particular.

The Governor also expressed delight over the recent reclamation of Sambisa forest which was the major hideout of the insurgency, through the counter insurgency of the Nigeria Military recently.

His words: “I want to salute the Nigerian armed forces for gallantly fighting insurgency and decimating it. Four years ago, the people of the northeastern state, Borno in particular were facing threats, 20 out of 27 local government in Borno were under the occupation of Boko Haram, and nobody could venture out of Maiduguri beyond 10 kilometers, you are in Boko Haram territory.

“I want to sincerely thank the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for the accomplishment in the security of the northeastern zone. The Nigerian military was able to accomplish in the past couple of weeks in the Sambisa forest, accomplishment that we did not experience in the past two years”.

The governor, however, said that in the last three years, the local governments that were formally under the control of Boko Haram were liberated.

He, however, revealed that the “suicide bombing by Boko Haram is not a sign of strength from the insurgents, but it’s a sign of weakness”.

In his address, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said following the current progress made in counter terrorism, the level of attacks, even in Abuja, has been reduced drastically.

“We have come a long way from those days, when Boko Haram could strike at a place and time of their own choosing, when Boko Haram conquered and administered territories. That time, not even Abuja, the heartland of the nation, was safe from the insurgents’ attacks. Today, Boko Haram is no longer capable of carrying out coordinated attacks anywhere. All they do now is to engage in cowardly attacks on soft targets. That, in itself, is a sign of weakness.

“Let’s be clear, we didn’t get to where we are today by accident. Our gallant men and women in uniform have made all the sacrifices, including the supreme sacrifice, to bring us here. Our political and military leaders have shown leadership in getting us here, unlike in the past when, in the words of Mr. President, official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion made Boko Haram a terrifying force. The ordinary folks have also shown great resilience and support to bring us here. We are eternally grateful to all”

Furthermore, Alhaji Mohammed said “since this last phase of the war is intelligence-driven, we will like to appeal to the people in the affected areas to cooperate with the military in terms of providing information, especially about fleeing Boko Haram insurgents. There is the need for vigilance now, more than at any other time. More than 100 Chibok girls have so far been rescued. The government is committed to the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls, and we need every useful information we can get on their whereabouts.

“With Boko Haram beaten and on the run, we are now tackling the post-war challenges of reintegration and rehabilitation. The schools that have been destroyed as a result of years of the insurgency are being rebuilt. The health facilities are being revamped. Overall, our humanitarian response is being scaled up, with the support of our international friends”.

In his address, the Minister of Defense Brigadier Gen Dan Ali (Rtd) said the ongoing activities of the Nigerian Military in the country have degraded Boko Haram in the Northeast and reduced insecurity and criminality in other parts of the country.

“I want to state that Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria have recorded remarkable success during the period under review, particularly, in the area of degrading Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast, also there has been significant reduction in insecurity and criminality in other parts of the country”, the Defence Minister noted.

Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume accused government of not properly funding the development and reconstruction of the region.

He described the N45bn budgetary provision for the northeast in a year as grossly insufficient.

In their reactions, the participants who were drawn from the northeastern states, said there should be improvement in the handling of humanitarian issues, and reconstruction of ravaged areas.

They also called for prompt payment of military personnel in the northeast and more support for them to discharge their duties effectively.

By Ajansii Mgbo

 

 

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