Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar
While speaking when President Muhammadu Buhari paid him a courtesy call at his palace in Shehuri, Maiduguri, the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai Elkanemi, dismissed claims by security operatives that the ongoing military operations, was yielding positive result.
According to Vanguard, the monarch insisted that even in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, residents and farmers cannot move out of the city beyond 5 kilometres without being killed or kidnapped by insurgents.
Recall that the north-east has been under series of attack by the Boko Haram insurgents, the latest being the attack on the 157 task force battalion in Metele, Borno were atleast a 100 soldiers were reportedly killed in the attack, but the army said it lost 39 men.
The Shehu of Borno, while applauding President Buhari in the fight against Boko Haram, said there was much to be done for the people of the state to be free from terrorists atrocities.
He said: “On behalf of the traditional institution in Borno, I want to commend Your Excellency for the commitment you have given towards ending the lingering crisis of Boko Haram
“It is unfortunate that despite all efforts put in place to restore peace in our land and the North East, we the people of Borno State are still under Boko Haram siege. “Nobody can dare move out of Maiduguri by 10 kilometres without being confronted/attacked by Boko Haram.
“Quite a number of farmers are being killed and kidnapped on a daily basis around Molai General Area, which is just 10 kilometres away from the metropolis, along Maiduguri -Damboa -Biu road.
“Most of the surrounding villages and communities in Konduga, Damboa, Mafa and other local government areas have been razed down in the last two weeks.
“We plead that the federal government and the security agencies review the strategies in nipping this lingering crisis in the bud.”
The President had visited the monarch before proceeding to the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference where he was special guest of honour.
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