Borno: Zulum Denies Boko Haram Occupation Of LGAs |The Source

By Fola James

Babagana Umara Zulum, Borno state Governor has criticised the Nigerian Military again, few weeks after his convoy was attacked in Baga, which he blamed on the nation’s armed forces.

In his recent outburst, Governor Zulum warned that the many Internal Displaced Persons, IDPs camps have now become recruitment centers for the insurgents, adding that some vulnerable displaced persons may have been brainwashed to join the extremists’ group.

But the governor suggestions that the insurgents, who controls a swathe of land in the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest,  are still in control of many local governments in the state.

Zulum, a professor has consistently blamed the military for failure to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east a la his state.

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ has however, denied not doing enough to rein in the religious fanatics who have stepped up their attacks in Borno state in recent weeks.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, Governor Zulum stated that the sect “is working on people to join them,” adding that the only way out of this is to make sure that the IDPs returned to where they came from.

Governor Zulum said  “If the IDPs living in camps could not get what they are looking for, especially the opportunity to go back to their various towns and return to the farm, they may be forced to join the Boko Haram sect.

It is important that they go back to their various towns because no government can continue to be feeding them continuously.”

He explained those displaced from places such as Baga, Marte, Malam Fatori and Guzamala, should be provided security by the soldiers to return home.

He urged the military to throw everything into the war to root out the insurgents from all their hide outs.

According to him “The sect members are hiding at the Lake Chad area and the Sambisa forest. There will still be a problem unless they are traced to their hiding places. Chasing them away from their headquarters is one of the solutions towards ending the insurgency.”

The governor also denied suggestions that the sects are still in control of many local governments in the state.

“Truly, there is no place under the occupation of Boko Haram. But there are places with no people there. What I mean is that people are yet to return to their places of origin.

“I swear by Allah, before the coming of Buhari, the security situation in Borno had deteriorated. At that time, 20 local government areas where under Boko Haram. Now, it’s not so,” Zulum said.

Recall that Senator Ali Ndume recently shocked many Nigerians when he said some local governments are still under the firm control of the insurgents.

His comment that some repentant Boko Haram members resettled by the federal government, have gone back to joined the killer group also riled the Presidency.