Borno governor declares that his state is now terror-free despite occasional hiccups

BORNO State governor Kashim Shettima has boldly declared that his state is now terror-free although it still contains remnants of Boko Haram and there being occasional incidences of terrorist activity.

 

Speaking yesterday while receiving the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) Muhammad Sidi, Governor Shettima said that within 10 months of President Muhammadu Buhari coming into office, security had been restored. While Governor Shettima was quick to concede that the Boko Haram terrorist group had not been annihilated, he said that despite occasional hiccups, Borno is now free.

 

Governor Shettima said: “10 months ago, one could not travel for 10 kilometres without encountering terrorists as then, Maiduguri was the only relatively safe haven. Yes, we still have occasional hiccups but Boko Haram has been so decimated that they can no longer threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria.”

 

He noted that peace was gradually returning to the state, expressing optimism that by year-end, all internally displaced persons (IDPs), would have returned to their homes. Praising Nema for its support to Borno State, the governor solicited for greater help, saying the state is home to 90% of IDPs in the country.

 

According to Governor Shettima, out of 2.5m IDPs in Nigeria, Maiduguri alone is host to 1.7m, while there are nearly 200,000 in camps scattered around the state. On the vexed issue of the missing 219 Chibok girls, the governor was optimistic that the girls were still alive and would be rescued soon.

 

Mr Sidi, lauded the governor for embarking on the reconstruction of liberated areas, urging him not to be deterred by occasional and isolated terrorist attacks on soft targets. Nema manages most of the IDP camps in the state but there are now plans to resettle the refugees and get them back to normality.