OVERWHELMED by the relentless attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in
Borno communities, the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima met with
President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, on Monday, where
he declared that the terrorists are unstoppable.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting,
Shettima said “Borno is in a state of war,” while he dismissed the talk
of election in the state where, he said, the people were more
interested in their survival.
He observed that the insurgents had more sophisticated weapons than
the military, a development, he said, enabled them to operate at will.
However, he absolved the military of blame, as he blamed the situation on leadership.
“Well, in a nutshell, what we are being confronted with is that we
are in a state of war. It is what I came to update Mr President.
“The sooner we stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges
of the day and marshall all resources towards visualising the antics of
Boko Haram, the better for all of us.
“But the bottom line is that we need more resources, more votes on
ground. In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and
police, they are doing their best, given the circumstances they have
found themselves.
“But honestly, Boko Haram are better armed and are better motivated
than our own troops. And believe me, I am an eternal optimist, as I have
always said but I am also a realist. Given the present state of
affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” he
said.
On the reported threat by Boko Haram to launch an onslaught on
Cameroon if the country continued to assist the Federal Government to
fight the insurgents said to engage in cross border raids, Governor
Shettima said he was not aware of such threat.
“I am not privy to such an information, but the president has assured
us that he will put in his best to see that the unfortunate tendency of
the Boko Haram overrunning communities and butchering innocent souls is
brought under control,” he said.
When asked if the president was aware that Boko Haram insurgents were
better armed than the military, he remarked that he had adequately
briefed him on his observation.
“I made it emphatically clear to Mr President that the Boko Haram are
better armed and better motivated. Anybody who is following events in
this country can attest to the fact that they have a very smooth sail
overrunning communities, killing people.
“Have we ever succeeded in thwarting any of their plans? They went to
Konduga and did what they wanted to do. They held sway for many hours
before they left. They were in Kauri, Idzge and I don’t blame the
Nigerian military. Honestly, we the leaders should be held responsible
for our failure in leadership,” he said.
The embattled governor said though 106 persons were killed in Idzge
alone in the most recent attacks, his government was yet to compile the
actual figure of those who lost their lives in other communities to the
Boko Haram terrorists at the weekend.
“In Idzge alone, we lost 106 people and they raided eight other
communities. So, until I get back home, today or tomorrow, I cannot give
you the exact figure. But some were hospitalised with very grave
injuries. So, I am afraid the figures might climb,” he noted.
Speaking on whether 2015 election could be conducted in Borno State
under the present circumstances, the governor warned politicians to quit
playing politics with the issue, noting that people were more
interested in the preservation of their lives.
“It’s too early for anybody to talk about election when human lives
are involved. Power comes from God and he gives power to whom He wills.
“I don’t care a hoot whether elections are held, but I do care that
peace is restored in Borno and the North-East sub-region. So, people
should stop playing politics,” he said.
Offensive against terrorists continues —DHQ
The
unfortunate attacks being carried out against troops and innocent
civilians by the insurgents will not deter the military in its ongoing
onslaught against terrorists in some parts of the country, the Defence
Headquarters has stated.
A statement issued in Abuja by the Director, Defence Information,
Major-General Chris Olukolade, said “terrorists, who move from village
to village attacking innocent civilians are those escaping from the
onslaught against their makeshift hideout on the border and entry point
from neighbouring countries.”
According to him, “the fighting patrols by air and land are being
stepped up in the forests and hills of the affected areas and other
parts of the North-East, where the Boko Haram terrorists are hiding.
“The security forces will continue to employ necessary fire power to
enhance the effectiveness of the mission until the terrorists are duly
curtailed,” he said.
Speaking further, the army spokesman said “locations that are prone
to attacks are being reinforced, while the general area is now under
heightened surveillance and patrols.
“Some suspected perpetrators of the recent assault have been apprehended and weapons recovered from them.”
While appealing for the patience of the general public, he said “the
citizens in the affected areas are encouraged to provide security
agencies with timely information, so as to forestall the activities of
the fleeing terrorists whose attacks on soft targets are intended to
provoke fear and create a false sense of invisibility.”
Niger Republic arrests 20 Boko Haram militants
Niger
Republic has arrested about 20 Boko Haram militants from neighbouring
Nigeria, suspected to be planning attacks in Niger’s South-East,
Nigerien security officials said on Monday.
The alleged plot to strike Diffa, a Nigerien town that borders
Nigeria’s Borno State, followed Nigerian army offensive against
militants that had pushed thousands of refugees and some insurgents
across the porous border into Niger.
Niger’s army chief, General Seyni Garba, told troops in Mali during a
visit that the militants were preparing attacks on markets and other
gathering places in retaliation for Niger’s stance against extremists in
the region.
Niger has emerged as a firm ally of France and the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda-linked groups in the Sahel.
It is a base for French and US surveillance drones and Niamey has
deployed 650 troops in neighbouring Mali to back a French-led campaign
against Islamists there.
“The bloodbath planned by the terrorist organisation to punish our
country has fortunately been avoided,” Garba was quoted as saying in
Monday’s edition of Le Sahel, a Niger state-owned newspaper.
Garba, speaking while visiting Nigerien troops in the United Nations
(UN) peacekeeping mission in Mali, said the arrests took place in Diffa.
A Nigerien security official told Reuters that 20 Boko Haram
militants, all Nigerians, were arrested in the sweep late last month.
“It was a cell that was planning attacks on Diffa and the surrounding areas,” the officer said, asking not to be named.
Another military officer said the cell was identified by Niger’s
anti-terrorism unit and placed under surveillance as soon as they
entered Niger’s territory.
TRIBUNE
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+12
AHEAD
the 2015 general election in Nigeria, the United States (US)
government, on Monday, reiterated his stand for a free and fair general
election, adding that it would stand with Nigerians to reject vote
selling or buying as well as violence.
THE
Federal Government, on Monday, disbursed the N200 billion intervention
funds to all the country’s public universities in line with the
agreement recently reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU). 
