By Akinwale Kasali
The war wages by Boko Haram Insurgents against the Nigerian Nation is still booming.
On Friday, the group attacked the convoy conveying officials of the Borno State Government near Monguno town, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The officials were reportedly ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists while they were journeying to Baga. Governor Babagana Zulum was there expecting to receive returning internal Displace Persons, IDPs.
It was gathered that, at least, five persons were killed, but unconfirmed reports insist, at least 24 people were mowed down by the terrorists.
It was gathered that the casualties include police, military personnel, and an unspecified number of civilians.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier belonging to the police as well as state government vehicles were reportedly hijacked in the attack.
The Governor of the State, Governor Babagana Zulum had flown in an Airforce chopper to Baga earlier to perform the Friday Jumat prayers with the troops, and was to have been a victim of the attack if he had followed the convoy.
Zulum is expected to receive about three thousand civilians who will be transported from IDP camps both in Maiduguri and Monguno on Saturday.
It has, however, become a growing concern the attacks by the insurgents on government convoy. The recent attack came a few weeks after the attack on the Governor, thus, stirring a great concern.
The convoy of the State Governor had in July narrowly escaped a terror attack in Baga town.
Governor Zulum had departed Maiduguri, the state capital for the northern part of the state in continuation of a food distribution programme, and a few kilometers to the town, gunmen opened fire on the governor and his entourage.
Distraught by the attack, Zulum confronted the army expressing his disappointment at the inability of the military to rid Baga and environs of insurgents.
“You have been here for over one year now, there are 1,181 soldiers here; if you cannot take over Baga which is less than 5 km from your base, then we should forget about Baga. I will inform the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the men to other places that they can be useful,” Zulum said.
The governor insisted that there is sabotage in the system that will not allow the insurgency to end in the North East.
He claimed that some elements were trying to frustrate the effort of the government in ending the insurgency, stressing that “President Muhammadu Buhari needs to know the truth”.
The military dismissed Zulum’s claims as unfounded.
Speaking on behalf of the army, Major General Felix Omoigui, the Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, warned that such remarks by a highly placed person are capable of demoralizing the troops, a situation which would negatively impact on operations and the confidence of the soldiers at the frontlines.
