Boko Haram: ‘Borno is now free’ — Governor Shettima
– Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno announced that the state is now free of terror
– He expressed optimism that by the end of the year all internally displaced persons would have returned to their homes
– He commended NEMA for its work but asked for greater support because Borno state is home to 90% of IDPs in Nigeria
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno announced that state is now free of terror.
Governor Kashim Shettima has announced that Borno state is now free of terror.
The governor noted that the Boko Haram sect had not been totally annihilated, but added that despite occasional hiccups “Borno is now free”.
Vanguard reports that Shettima stated this on Monday, April 11, in Abuja while visiting Muhammad Sidi, the director general of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The governor recalled that 10 months ago, one could not travel for 10 kilometres without encountering Boko Haram insurgents. He noted Maiduguri, the capital of the state, 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 added.
READ ALSO: Read what happened to 3000 IDPs after liberation of their communities
Shettima expressed optimism that by the end of the year all internally displaced persons (IDPs) would have returned to their homes.
He commended NEMA for its work but asked for greater support, saying Borno state is home to 90% of IDPs in Nigeria.
According to him, out of 2.5 million IDPs in the country Maiduguri hosts 1.7 million, while there are nearly 200,000 IDPs in camps scattered around the state.
Speaking about the missing Chibok girls, Shettima expressed optimism that the school girls were still alive and would be soon rescued by the Nigerian army.
In his remarks, Sidi praisd the governor for embarking on the reconstruction of liberated areas and called on him not to be deterred by occasional and isolated terrorist attacks on soft targets.
Meanwhile, Boko Haram terrorists are allegedly ready to exchange the missing Chibok girls for about N10billion.
Sources close to the insurgents revealed that they issued the demand during secret contacts with President Muhammadu Buhari, who was reportedly willing to negotiate for the girls’ freedom.
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