Borno State governor, Prof. babagana Zulum, has joined other Nigerians to asking the Nigerian military to take the war to the insurgents in Sambisa Forest and other enclaves they are holding.
Zulum sold this message to President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday when he visited the state to commensurate with it over the attacks that led to the death of 30 people and destruction of many vehicles.
politically speaking, it was a tough experience for Buhrai as some of the residents, who used to celebrate his presence expressed negative reactions.
Addressing the President in Maiduguri, Zulum said it was high time the military changed its strategy.
During the meeting held at the Shehu of Borno’s palace, the governor said:
“Your Excellency, sir, between the period of March 2019 and now, we have started witnessing horrific and spontaneous attacks by the insurgents which have resulted in the lost of lives and properties of our people. We are calling upon the Nigerian military to change strategies and we can borrow a leaf from the success our military was able to hugely record in the years 2016 and 2017 with a view to ending the insurgency. We need to keep taking the war to enclaves of the insurgents in the fringes of the Lake Chad, in Sambisa forest and some notable areas.”
Governor Zulum however commended the President for his commitment to ending the insurgency. He recalled the gains recorded in the years 2016 and 2017 and also thanked him for being consistent in showing empathy to the people of Borno.
“Let me appreciate Mr President for associating with us at this our very trying moment. I am so surprised that we have forgotten the past,” Zulum said.
He added that although he could not ignore the current unfortunate situation, the people of Borno state still remembered the days before Buhari’s emergence, when 20 out of the 27 local government areas in the state were in the hands of Boko Haram while all the five routes into the state were largely inaccessible with the exception of Maiduguri-Kano road. In addition, he cited, sporadic bombings and killings even within the capital, Maiduguri.
“Close to about 20 local government areas were resettled under Buhari. In fact, in the year 2016/2017, we celebrated the demise of the Boko Haram insurgency that has unfortunately returned,” Zulum said.
President Buhari reiterated his commitment to ending the insurgency, fighting corruption and leading the country to economic recovery.
The President called on the people of Borno to continue cooperation with the military.
