Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has described the recent comment made by the Senator representing Borno Central, Baba Kaka Garbai, on Boko Haram controlling half of the state as “a mere emotional outburst”.
The senator had debunked claim by the military high command that Boko Haran has been substantially degraded; saying the sect members still controls half of Borno state.
“I feel highly demoralized, devastated in the sense that this is the village we came during the election and they were going about their normal business. The activities that were ongoing were like confidence building.
“It is a wrong assumption that most of the local governments in Borno are recaptured from the Boko Haram. In reality this is not true in the sense that apart from Maiduguri Metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar, these are the three local governments that are under the occupation of the Nigerian government where the military and police are maintaining law and order.
“Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hither-lands are still controlled by the insurgents,” Senator Garbai had told journalists at the weekend.
But, Governor Shettima dismissed the senator’s claim, saying Boko Haram has been decimated, demoralised and degraded, adding that Borno is now far better off than it was six months ago.
Shettima stated this while speaking with journalists shortly after arriving Maiduguri from an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
He spoke further, “It is either the senator was emotional or misquoted. The military has recorded tremendous successes in the fight against Boko Haram in the last six months.
“You know Ngala, Dikwa and some areas were recently liberated and as the Chief Security Officer of the state, I can confidently say Boko Haram has been decimated, demoralised and degraded. Borno is better off than it was six months ago”.
The governor urged the people of the state to continue to support military and security agencies with useful information to enhance their counter-insurgency operations.
Meanwhile, Air Commodore Dele Alonge has been appointed the Media Coordinator of Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole.
A statement signed by the Deputy Director, 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Colonel Mustapha Abubakar Anka stated that, he is an alumni of National Defence University Islamabad-Pakistan and also seasoned Public Relations Officer.
Air Commodore Alonge who is a member of many professional bodies was the Director Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force before his new appointment.
