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Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has blamed the Nigerian Military’s decision to establish “super camps” as being responsible for last week Wednesday’s attack on Gubio and Magumeri local government areas in the northern part of the state by Boko Haram insurgents.
He stated this at the weekend after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Zulum was responding to a question on why it was easy for the Islamist terrorists to operate without resistance.
“Well, the most important thing is that there is an ongoing military strategy, according to the military authorities, what they call the establishment of ‘super camps’. That entails that all other smaller units in various villages and towns shall be collapsed to form part of the super camps in some critical major local government areas,” the Governor explained.
“In our thinking as laymen, not as military personnel, we thought this decision is not wise. We must ensure there is military presence in all the locations. We are very much aware of their numerical strength but, nonetheless, their absence can create serious vacuums and that has informed the recent attacks.
“However, I heard that the military is now trying to re-establish the military formations in those areas and that they should not form part of the super camps,” he added.w
Zulum went on to commend the efforts of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) despite lacking required weapons because they are not constitutionally backed to do so.
“Honestly speaking, the civilian JTF are working but the most important thing is that they don’t have the heavy weapons that they can use to conveniently face [insurgents]. So, the absence of the Nigerian Military in a particular place will create a vacuum in such a way that the civilian JTF and hunters cannot perform effectively.
“I have told Mr President and he has listened to our complaints. He has done a lot for the people of Borno State and it is our sincere hope that this time around he will take necessary steps to forestall future occurrence. But, most importantly, the presence of the Nigerian Military in almost all the locations, especially in local government headquarters, need not be overemphasised.”
The Governor stressed the importance of youth employment in order to forestall their becoming a easy tools at the hands of the the Islamist terrorists.
“On my own part as the governor, first of all, I wish to call on the people of Borno State to be patient while we try to strengthen the civilian JTF as well as supplement the efforts of the Nigerian Military, as well as the Nigerian Police.
“By and large, we must also address the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency which is not limited to endemic poverty, pervasive illiteracy, financial and economic hardship, unemployment, environmental degradation, drug abuse, among others. We must ensure our youths are employed. We shall support the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian military and, most importantly the gallant civilian JTF and the hunters, to ensure that the remnants of Boko Haram are eliminated.”
