‘FG is ignoring Boko Haram crisis’

Presidency says Shettima wrong on Army’s power

The Federal Government has not been paying enough attention to the Boko Haram crisis in parts of the North-East, elders in Borno State have said.

They spoke separately to Daily Trust in Maiduguri, saying the Federal Government must step up efforts to fight the insurgency. Those who spoke are a spokesman for the Borno Elders Forum, a leader of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), a vigilante leader as well as an activist.

On Monday, Governor Kashim Shettima met with President Jonathan in Abuja, and said the Boko Haram insurgents are better armed and motivated than the military fighting them. He said also unless more troops and military hardware were deployed, the battle against Boko Haram would not be won.

Speaking in similar vein, Borno Elders Forum spokesman, Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio, told Daily Trust in Maiduguri that while “wanton killing of Borno people” has been going on by insurgents, there has been little attention from the Federal Government.

Gubio also pilloried President Jonathan

for failing to speak out in the past weeks when insurgency attacks heightened, causing the death of nearly 200 people within a week.

“In my personal opinion, it is certain that the Federal Government has failed to identify the actual problem bedeviling us or is deliberately looking the other way while our people are being massacred with impunity,” Gubio said.

He said security forces have no reason to justify their inability to penetrate the infamous Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, places adjudged to be the breeding grounds of the insurgents.

“During the Civil War, the Nigerian soldiers, including thousands from the northern part of the country were mobilised to the rain and mangrove forest in eastern Nigeria where they spent over 30 months confronting the rebels and they succeeded in keeping Nigeria one,” he said.

“It is shameful that with all the resources, expertise and wherewithal of the Nigerian Army, they could not comb the Sambisa Forest inch by inch to fish out the terrorists. From what we are seeing, any small country can override Nigeria and go away with it.

“Before it is too late, the Federal Government must be proactive by equipping the military and also motivate the vulnerable soldiers who are left in the bushes with only AK47 rifle and few bullets while on the other hand the terrorists, who are well trained and motivated, have anti-aircraft missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and countless explosives.

“In other parts of the world, life is sacred and the killing of two people will attract a national broadcast by the President and a concrete decision will be taken, including punishing some people but the case here is different.

“As far as we are concerned, if the president refused to do what is right to confront this serious threat, he is simply telling those of us from the North-East that we are on our own.”

Also speaking, chairman of the Biu Chapter of the NBA, Barrister Bukar Alhaji Waziri, said the Federal Government was not doing enough, and called on authorities to intensify efforts towards finding solution to the Boko Haram violence.

“The troops on ground are not enough because of the vast land in Borno State. So, government should bring in more troops and equipment. They should also seek the cooperation of the locals to provide timely information which can help in bringing the insurgency to an end,” he said.

Ahmed Shehu, the North-East coordinator of Peace Ambassador, said, “The situation is embarrassing and beyond human comprehension” and urged the government to find solution to the insurgency.

“Most importantly, the President must see the problem in the North-East as a national problem. It is the only way that he can prove to us that he is for all, irrespective of tribal and religious differences,” he said.

Some vigilante leaders in Borno, for their part, blamed the military for not taking advice.

“We told them that we know where the insurgents are hiding and carrying out training and preparations for attacks but no one is willing to go and pursue them,” Tijjani Peter, a vigilante leader in Konduga said.

From January to date, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed in Borno villages.

The latest attack on Saturday in Izge village left 133 people dead, according to the updated death toll given by residents on Monday.