- As Governor Berates Military Over Attack
The Northern Governors Forum has condemned Wednesday’s attack on the convoy of Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, noting that the attacks were regrettable.
The Governors also described the attack “as callous and reprehensible.”
Zulum was attacked on his way to Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, while on the way to distribute palliatives to Internally Displaced Persons for the Sallah celebration.
Chairman of the forum and the Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, said the attack on Zulum’s convoy was an act to frustrate his efforts in ensuring the well-being of the vulnerable in the state.
Lalong said the incident was a desperate attempt by criminal elements to sabotage Zulum’s efforts toward reducing the sufferings of IDPs who had been traumatised by terrorists.
“This regrettable attack shows the desperation by enemies of peace and humanity at large to jeopardise all efforts towards making life easier for victims of violence in the state over the years.
“The Northern Governors Forum strongly condemns this attack and stands with Gov. Zulum who has demonstrated courage in personally reaching out to people in need despite the dangers.
“We urge him not to be deterred as he keeps working with security agencies to protect the lives and property of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zulum has berated the military for the attack on his convoy.
Governor Zulum, while speaking with journalists in Monguno said: “as far as I am concern, what happened in Baga is complete sabotage by the military. There is no Boko Haram in Baga.
“I wondered, we have over 1181 soldiers in Baga, 72 officers, 107 soldiers, 400 soldiers in mile 4 and 1900 soldiers in Monguno, I see no reason why only 5 Boko Haram will stop them from occupying Baga town,” Governor zulum added.
Governor Zulum said “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 structure is nothing to write home about. There is a need to look into the command structure.
“We have over 80,000 IDPs in Monguno, they cannot continue to depend on International Non Governmental Organizations (INGO) and others for food, we have to create opportunity for them to go back to their communities and continue with their business and farming activities, after Sallah, we are going to allow people to go back to kukawa and we will give time to the military, if they will not clear Baga, we will mobilize our hunters, CJTF, and Vigilantes to recapture Baga, we cannot continue like this, people have to take their destiny in their hands,” he added.
