Boko Haram: Five First Class Emirs Sacked, Over Two Million IDPs In Maiduguri Camps – Shehu Of Borno

…Says Insurgency Came From Neighbouring State SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, (THEWILL) –  As the military continues to count the gains of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the Northeast, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, Tuesday, lamented the effects of the five-year-old Boko Haram crisis in the state.

Lamenting that the Boko Haram crisis has left about two million people internally displaced within Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, alone , the Borno monarch said no fewer than five first class Emirs had been sacked from their domains , leaving only two .

“We have about two million IDPs in Maiduguri, our people were displaced and their houses were burnt. They have been made to go through wanton destruction.

“Palaces were taken over by insurgents. We have five emirs residing in Maiduguri, we only have two emirs still in their domains,” the monarch said when the Borno Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel Madaki, presented his permanent voters card (PVC) to him.

The Shehu of Borno also dismissed the impression that Borno is the home of Boko Haram, saying “This problem was not initiated here but was brought to us from one of our sister states.”

According to the monarch, “The problem was brought on us and taken to neighbouring states and gradually it has found its way into neighbouring countries.

“We have been made to live in fear. We are encircled by insurgents and it is so sad that getting out of Maiduguri is difficult, you can hardly travel 10 kilometers from here without being attacked.

“The only safe passage cannot really be said to be safe as there are pockets of attack on the route, Maiduguri-Kano highway.”

He pleaded with INEC to do all in its powers to ensure that the IDPs in Maiduguri are not disenfranchised and allowed to vote during the forthcoming elections, saying it was no fault of theirs that they had to flee their homelands.

The REC, who earlier assured that the PVCs that were yet to be brought to the state would be delivered before the end of the week, said INEC was fully ready for the elections.