Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has lamented that the people of the State have suffered from the activities of the deadly Islamist insurgents, Boko Haram, describing them as “evil”.
He spoke on Tuesday while receiving members of the Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on Chibok abduction led by its chairman, Col Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House.
Lamenting the losses suffered over the years as a result of terrorism, the Governor said, “Borno has seen evil times. Our people have suffered.
“To every other Muslim, worldwide, these men (who) kill, destroy and abduct, insult Islam by calling themselves Muslims. They have contradicted every single tenet of the Islamic religion.”
Shettima however, pledged the commitment of the state government to a “sincere and active collaboration with the Federal Government and other support groups” to ensure freedom for the abducted schoolgirls, and collectively fight the insurgency.
While stating that the Committee was motivated by patriotism and the fear of God, Gen. Sabo (rtd) urged the governor to maintain his equanimity and endurance in the face of the heat on the state.
Meanwhile, Military Commanders, the State Commissioner of Police, state Director of the Department of State Services, Commanders of Customs, Immigration, and Prisons formations, as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have taken turns to brief the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the Chibok Abduction.
The meetings took place in Maiduguri, Borno State, where the Committee is carrying on with its assignment. The first round of interactions took place till late on Monday night, while the second session continued on Tuesday.
Others who have interfaced with the Committee are principal officers of Government Secondary School, Chibok, where the mass abduction took place, and the Chairman of Chibok local government.
A statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Committee, Kingsley Osadolor, quotes the Chairman of the Committee, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd) as saying, “We are pleased with the candour of the officers. In the light of what we have heard and ascertained from the intensive engagement so far, I am confident that the Committee will discharge its mandate.”
Part of the Committee’s task is to articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls, as well as mobilise the surrounding communities and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation.
The Commanders, who interacted with the Fact-finding Committee, have been in the theatre of conflict with the insurgents, including the material time of the abduction of the schoolgirls.
The officers’ range of briefs included the roles and responses of their respective Commands before, during, and after the abduction incident. They also discussed the measures adopted so far, together with the results, and other steps that might be necessary to secure freedom for the schoolgirls.
Again, Gov. Shettima is due to have a closed-door session with the Fact-finding Committee.
