‎ Boko Haram attacks insurgents are finishing my people- Shettima
The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has lamented that the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents, adding that the sect has better sophisticated weapons and better motivated by their backers to continue the destruction of lives and properties in the North East region.
Fielding question from State House correspondents when he came to brief President Goodluck Jonathan, on the latest attack on the State by terrorist sect, Boko Haram, Shettima who was visibly shaken by the development in the last few days, said political leaders should be held responsible for failure to curb the continuous deadly attacks.
Shettima admitted that the North East in particular was in the state of war and it was high political leaders stop playing the ostrich and join hands together , pulling out all available resources to tackle the menace.
The Borno governor who said he was more interested in stoppage the carnage by the terrorist sect rather than elections, regretted in all the attacks carried out so far, the sect have not be satisfactorily confronted hence they leave behind destruction and deads in their wake with each attack.
Asked what it will take to curb the constant Boko haram attack, Shettima said, “Well, in a nutshell what we are being confronted with is that we are in a state of war. It is what I came to update Mr. President, the sooner we stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day, and Marshall all resources towards neutralising the antics of Boko haram the better for all of us.
“But the bottom line is that we need more resources, more vote on ground. In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police, they are doing their best given the circumstances they have found themselves in. But honestly Boko Haram are better armed and are better motivated than our own troops. And believe me, I am an eternal optimist as I have always said but I am also a realist. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram.
On the threat by Boko Haram to launch an onslaught if Cameroon assist the Federal Government to fight it, the governor said, “I am not privy to such an information but the President has assured us that he will put in his best to see that the unfortunate tendency of the Boko Haram overrunning communities and butchering innocent souls is brought under control”.
Asked if the president was made to understand that the Boko haram are better armed, he said, “I made it emphatically clear to Mr. President that the Boko Haram are better armed and better motivated, anybody who is following events in this country can attest to the fact that they have a very smooth sail overrunning communities, killing people. Have we ever succeeded in thwarting any of their plans? They went to Konduga and did what they wanted to do, they held sway for over five hours before they left. They were in Kauri, Idzge and I don’t blame the Nigerian military honestly, we the leaders should be held responsible for our failure in leadership”.
On the casualty figure, Shettima said, “In Idzge alone we lost 106 people and they raided eight other communities so until I get back home, today or tomorrow I cannot give you the exact figure. But some were hospitalized with very great injuries so I am afraid the figures might climb”.
On the threat of the sect’s attack affecting next year’s election, the governor said, “It is foolhardy for anybody to talk about election when human lives are involved, power comes from God and he gives power to whom He will. I don’t care a haute whether elections are here but I do care that peace is restored in Borno and the north east subregion, so people should stop playing politics”.