SAN FRANCISCO, February 08, (THEWILL) – Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has declared that no local government in his state is under the occupation of Boko Haram.
The governor spoke in response to a statement credited to Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, representing Borno Central in the National Assembly, last weekend, that the military has not be able to degrade Boko Haram and that the state is substantially under the control of the insurgents.
Shetimma, speaking to journalists on Monday, after returning to Maiduguri from an official visit to Saudi Arabia, said the claim was either an emotional outburst or perhaps he was quoted out of context adding that Borno State was better than it was six months ago.
“As the Chief Security Officer of Borno State I can tell you authoritatively that no local government is under the occupation of Boko Haram,” he said.
“Our military deserves commendation, because all my local government areas have been liberated, only few insurgents that remain in the Sambisa forest where they continue to launch some pockets of attacks as a result of the bombardment that is going on in their hideouts.”
“It is either the senator was emotional or misquoted. The military has recorded tremendous successes in the fight against Boko Haram in the last six months. You know Ngala, Dikwa and some ares were recently liberated and as the Chief Security Officer of the state, I can confidently say Boko Haram has been decimated, demoralized and degraded. Borno is better off than it was six months ago.”
He said the military may have some challenges in the counter-insurgency operation but maintained the problem were surmountable. “I believe the war is gradually over. What we are witnessing now is hiccup and it was expected but we have definitely seen the worst days.”
He said the service chiefs have visited the theatre of operation severally since their appointment to boost the morale of troops, urging the people to support the military and the Federal Government efforts as they deserve “special commendation.”
The governor who immediately made a short trip to Dalori which came under the attack of insurgents to console the residents on their lost, announced the constitution of a committee to oversee the rebuilding and release of N100 million of the destroyed buildings.
He said the committee will be headed by the state deputy governor, Alhaji Usman Durkwa and assisted by the state chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon Bukar Dalori.
He commended the military, police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), its state counterpart (SEMA), Red Cross, Civilian JTF and other humanitarian agencies for their supports in the wake of the Dalori attack.
Story by David Oputah
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