Governor Babagana Zulum has lashed out at the Nigerian Army over the attack on travellers on Maiduguri-Damaturu Road on Friday.
He said his experience on the 20-kilometre road, where there were incessant attacks, made him doubt the capacity of the military.
He visited Jakana, one of the major towns along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway on Monday and faulted the army for Friday’s abduction of over 30 travellers.
He said, “I have had occasions to defend the Nigerian military in order to boost the morale of commanders and their troops at the front lines because I know the true picture of things, however, I am really disappointed that despite all support from both the federal government and from us in Borno state, our military is failing to secure an area of 20 kilometers, which is the distance between Auno and Jakana.
“And incidentally, the majority of Boko Haram’s attacks along this Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road, keeps happening between Auno and Jakana. So, if the military cannot secure 20 kilometers, how can they keep us with the hope they will defeat the Boko Haram?
“With all you (journalists) we drove from Maiduguri to here, Jakana. We did not see soldiers on the road, we did not see even our own rapid response squad on this road and they were trained, employed, kitted, and paid to protect all Nigerians wi
