By Akeem Oyetunji Governor Kashim Shetimma of Borno State has reacted to the damning report released by Amnesty International, which indicted Nigerian military high command for ignoring warnings given ahead of abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok.
His Special Adviser on Media, Isa Gusau, however said the governor would not speak on the report, but hastened to add that his boss, Shetimma, respects the findings of Amnesty International as a credible organisation.
Gusau’s reaction reads in full, “I have seen and read the Amnesty International report. It is clearly directed at the Federal Government.
“The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima will not comment on the report. But the Governor deeply appreciates the efforts and sacrifices of security agencies in Borno State who have been engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the last three years with some of them laying their lives for the State.
“The Governor also respects the Amnesty International as a credible institution and will not doubt its findings. The Governor is very much committed to supporting ongoing search and rescue efforts to free Borno’s precious daughters.
“More than any other person in position of authority, Governor Shettima is deeply pained by that unfortunate abduction and is committed to providing all necessary support security agencies and community volunteers towards freeing his daughters. Just for the record, Governor Kashim Shettima has since assuming power, accorded nothing short of outstanding support for all security agencies in the State and this has been well acknowledged by different heads of security agencies at various times. “Borno State under his tenure has provided over 300 brand new hilux patrol vehicles to them, the state fuels these vehicles daily and provides maintenance. The State provides other material logistics to security agencies.
“Through a strong network of communities involvement Governor Shettima works very hard in generating and providing information they process for their intelligence, the State provides N1m to families of every soldier killed in combat as palliative to families and to motivate others on battle field, security chiefs have unfettered access to the Governor as they see him at the shortest time with or without prior appointment, day or night, the Governor acts on his daily reports appropriately, the Governor has inspired youth volunteers, trained, equipped them with patrol vehicles and pays them salaries to do community policing to complement troops.
“Borno does these and more in the last three years of the Shettima administration”
