Don’t underrate B/Haram capacity – Gov Shettima

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday warned that though Boko Haram insurgents had been sufficiently decimated, their capacity for attacks in the state should not be underrated.

He was addressing State House reporters after meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Defence Minister Mansur Mukhtar, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, Chief of Defence Staff Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Army Staff Tukur Burata and Chief of Air Staff Sadique Abubakar.

The closed-door meeting, which was held at the Vice President’s wing of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, lasted two hours.

Shettima described the sect as ‘lunatics’ taking advantage of publicity to kill and maim so that they could “get greater regard in the global jihadist community.”

Asked to comment on the constant bombings in Borno, the governor responded: “Well, it is not constant per say. If you juxtapose the sorry state of affairs two years ago with the current state of affairs, there is cause for celebration. To me personally, even these suicide bombings are a sign of weakness on the part of Boko Haram. Two years ago, they were holding on to 22 out of 27 local government areas.

“Definitely, we are also coming up with robust response towards addressing this issue of suicide bombing. We have challenges no doubt about it; I am not actually discounting that fact. But when you put it in proper contest, you will see that a lot has been done.”

Governor Shettima also told journalists that the session was an exploratory meeting on the rebuilding of the insurgencyravaged northeast. He said the federal government has magnanimously decided to support the Bama initiative, expressing hope that would be replicated in all parts of the devastated region.