The Governor of Borno State, Alh. Kashim Shettima, yesterday admitted that Boko Haram insurgency has affected nine out of the 27 Local Government Areas in the state, representing one third.
The worst hit areas are Gwoza, Damboa, Askira/Uba, Marte, Chibok, Konduga, Dikwa and Bama.
He begged the Federal Government to redouble its present efforts to curtail Boko Haram.
He however said hope was not lost and vowed that the government will reclaim some of the towns and villages seized by the insurgents.
Shettima, who made the disclosures in a state broadcast, said Borno State will survive the insurgency.
He also said he would not abdicate his responsibility to the people of the state no matter the situation.
He said: “Borno State has been facing this Boko Haram challenge since the four-day war of July 2009 in Maiduguri when the Boko Haram waged its major war on Borno’s soil. Having been defeated by our determined Armed Forces, insurgents resorted to Guerrilla warfare that has been raging on for the last four years.
“At least one third of our local government areas have been affected by their attacks with different degrees of intensity and periodic occupation.
“In recent days and weeks, we have come under renewed and augmented attacks, waged against all of us, by an armed minority that seeks to impose on us, a doctrine that is completely at variance with the religion of Islam which they claim to promote; a doctrine that negates the dignity and existence of humanity on earth, despite Allah’s decree in the glorious Quran, that He has dignified the human creature, prohibited unjust killings and made the religion of Islam that which does not sanction compulsion in a multi-faith society like ours.
“Several innocent communities in Gwoza, Damboa, Askira/Uba, Marte, Chibok, Konduga, Dikwa and the most recent, Bama, have had young and old, amongst them children, weak old men and women, killed in cold blood, their homes destroyed and thousands forced to flee, with some trekking over hurtful distances to become refugees within and outside Borno State.
“Our Capital City of Maiduguri is today facing a heavy influx of refugees from the local government areas in Borno. Borno citizens have been forced to take refuge in parts of Gombe and Adamawa States mainly on account of man’s inhumanity to fellow man in the gratuitous name of religion. These acts are absolutely condemnable in the strongest of terms.
“Let me use this opportunity to once again, extend my deepest sympathy to the families of all those who lost their lives in these serial massacres that are designed to send Borno and its people into oblivion, but which will not succeed Insha Allah. I also express my very deep sympathy to all victims who either lost property or are taking refuge.
“Our heart as Government is fully with each and every one of you and we will do everything humanly possible to support you, reclaim your communities, rebuild them and give all of you a new lease of life Insha Allah.
“ We will be supporting you as a matter obligation to you as good citizens. You have a right to be supported in distress. You have even more fundamental right to be protected from fear and attack in the first place. The number one duty of Government is to safeguard the lives and property of the citizenry.”
Although he commended the Federal Government and Armed Forces for rising to the insurgency, Shettima asked the government to redouble its efforts to save the state.
He added: “Our Armed Forces have also, during the Civil War, successfully saved our country from dismemberment. Our Armed Forces that have outstandingly proven their capability in such difficult times can by the grace Allah defeat the Boko Haram insurgency with overwhelming federal reinforcement in all areas of their needs.
“We strongly appeal to the Federal Government to redouble its present efforts so that the nation will be a historic witness to speedy containment of the Boko Haram insurgency. The Borno State Government will continue to do whatever it can to compliment the constitutional roles of the Federal Government in this battle of ours.
“Let me reassure the good people of Borno State that measures have been taken by the Federal Government based on information available to us as Government. With these steps and our combined efforts as State Government and resilient people, we shall overcome this tribulation. We must be very forth coming with useful information on what we hear or see because our safety start with what we tell not what we keep or bury.”
The governor said he would do his best to mobilize the people to overcome Boko Haram threats.
He added: “As Government which is holding the sacred mandate of the people, we will remain supportive of the civilian JTF as we have been.
“Our support for the military, police and other security agencies is that of a shared battle against the forces of darkness. We shall accelerate our focus on jobs creation to discourage idleness and criminality. We shall speed up ongoing infrastructures to deliver on our promises to make Borno a better place, a remodeled State, a great home we will all be proud of. Borno is our home.
“This is why I returned home amidst rumored fears held by some residents on possible attacks on Maiduguri. I cut short my official trip and returned home so we can be together as we have always been in trying to overcome the threat before us. I am confident that together we can overcome this challenge.
“Our condition cannot be permanent, no condition, ever was. We can overcome this problem with the right attitude from the top to the bottom. Indeed we can.”
Apart from unfolding health and food packages for those displaced, the governor said children whose parents have been killed by Boko Haram will be given access to Education from primary to the university.
He said: “On access to education, Government has observed a high scale requirement of admissions into primary and secondary school especially from guardians who seek slots at orphanage schools in Maiduguri and Biu in particular, for orphans whose parents were killed as a result of the insurgency.
“Consequently, a team of respected academics, school administrators and educationists will be inaugurated by me next week, with the mandate of coming up with State Primary and Secondary Schools for Special Citizens to be sited in Maiduguri and Biu for the time being.
“The schools are to be designed to accommodate high capacity of pupils with modern boarding facilities. Every child admitted into that school is to be on full Government scholarship from basic to University Education.
“Members of the public willing to make donations will be entertained to a ‘Adoption of child Education Programme’ though which kind citizens can adopt the education of a child, two or more, through well organised system that can be monitored by every sponsor who must be entitled to all academic and attitudinal record of an adoptee.”
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