By Bukola Hameed
Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has lashed out strong criticism at the Nigeria’s military apparatus including the army and the police for failure to protect Nigeria and its citizens, particularly in the North Eastern part of the country.
Governor Zulum vented his displeasure over routine attacks on Maiduguri-Damaturu highway when he visited Jakana, one of the major towns along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, during which he expressed serious anger on what has become routine attacks on travelers and villagers by Boko Haram, part of which was Friday’s abduction of over 30 travelers.
Zulum said it was disappointing that majority of the attacks within the last two years took place between Auno and Jakana, a distance of about 20 kilometers.
The governor reiterated that his defence of the military is premised on the fact that their morale needs to be boosted but however said he felt disappointed because Boko Haram’s attacks along Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road keeps happening, leaving him with the doubt that Boko Haram can be defeated.
“I have had occasions to defend the Nigerian military in order to boost the morale of commanders and their troops at the front lines because I know the true picture of things.
However, I am really disappointed that despite all support from both the federal government and from us in Borno state, our military is failing to secure an area of 20 kilometers, which is the distance between Auno and Jakana.
And incidentally, majority of Boko Haram’s attacks along this Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road, keeps happening between Auno and Jakana. So, if the military cannot secure 20 kilometers, how can they keep us with the hope they will defeat the Boko Haram?” Zulum said.
The governor also berated the army and his own state government established rapid response squad which combines well equipped policemen, vigilantes and local hunters, for lack of visibility along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road, which he thought, makes it feasible for Boko Haram to keep running their show in the same axis and on multiple occasions.
“With all you (journalists) we drove from Maiduguri to here, Jakana. We did not see soldiers on the road, we did not see even our own rapid response squad on this road and they were trained, employed, kitted and paid to protect all Nigerians within their areas of operation and these Nigerians include travelers plying this busy and important road” the governor noted.
He recalled that this year alone, the insurgents carried out many attacks along Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road, including the one in February, in which over 30 persons including nursing mother and an infant were burnt to death as travelers.
Governor Zulum however assured residents along the road that he was going to immediately hold a security meeting and hopefully come up with more measures to secure the highway.
He urged citizens to continually support the military by sharing information that would generate credible intelligence on the activities of insurgents.