Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has said that there was a “complete sabotage” in the fight against insurgency in the North East.
The governor stated this while lamenting the attack on his convoy on Wednesday, July 29, by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga area of the state.
Speaking on Thursday on the attack on him, Zulum expressed dismay that Boko Haram was taking Baga town in the state captive despite the number of armed forces deployed in the area.
He, therefore, vowed to mobilise local hunters and vigilantes to recapture Baga if the military failed to do so as soon as possible.
“We have over 1,181 soldiers in Baga; 72 officers, 107 soldiers, 400 soldiers in Mile 4 and 1,900 soldiers in Monguno. I see no reason why Boko Haram will not stop to operate in Baga town.
“The troops have been in Mile 4 for over one year, there is complete sabotage, the problem is not with President Buhari, or General Buratai but the command and control structures. There is a need to look into the command structure.
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“We have over 80,000 IDPs in Monguno, they cannot continue to depend on NGOs and others for food, we have created an opportunity for them to go back to their communities and continue with their business and farming activities,” Zulum said.
On what to do about Baga he said, “After Sallah, we will go back to Kukawa. We will give time to the military; but if they will not clear Baga, we will mobilise our hunters and vigilantes to recapture Baga… we can’t continue like this. People have to take their destiny in their hands.”
The military has since reacted to the attack on Zulum and his convoy through a statement by the spokesman of the Army, Col. Sagir Musa.
“Regrettably, this is an isolated and most unfortunate incident that occurred in a territory where normalcy has since been restored”, Musa had said, adding that it was under investigation.
Meanwhile, hours after the attack on Zulum, on Thursday three bomb blasts rocked Maiduguri, Borno State capital. Five persons, including a father and son as well as a child, died as a result of the bomb blast believed to have been launched by Boko Haram terrorists.
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