Expressing solidarity with Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, the Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). has said the unwarranted attack, which Zulum has not relented in blaming the Nigerian Army for, epitomises the collective vulnerability and fragility of the country’s security architecture.
Writing on behalf of the 36 State Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State flayed the attack last Wednesday, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
He adds: “This is one unwarranted attack too many. It epitomizes our collective vulnerability and the fragility of the country’s security architecture.
“Although you emerged from this incident unscathed, we note with regret the injuries sustained by two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and a Police Officer attached to your convoy and do accordingly pray for their quick recovery.
“Mr. Governor, Forum members are resolutely behind you in your effort to rid Borno State of these dastardly and wicked agents of evil.
“We are appalled by the worsening security situation in the country generally, in-spite of all the efforts of government to end it.
“On our part, the NEC Sub-Committee on Security will be meeting tomorrow and rising from the resolutions thereof soon dialogue with Mr. President and the nation’s Security Chiefs to discuss this worrisome and rapidly degenerating situation.
“On a final note, Mr. Governor, we thank God for always being merciful.”
Recall that Channels TV reports that Zulum insisted on Sunday that there was sabotage in the system that will not allow insurgency to end in the North East.
He said this when he met with the Governors of Kebbi and Jigawa States, Atiku Bagudu and Badaru Abubakar, who paid him a solidarity visit over the recent attack in Baga – a town in Borno.
Governor Zulum believes some elements are trying to frustrate the effort of the government in ending the insurgency and President Muhammadu Buhari needs to know the truth.
He said, “Let me also re-echo my previous position with respect to the level of insurgency in Borno State, I earlier said that the gravity of the insurgency cannot be compared with what has happened between 2011 to 2015, and 2015 to date. Yes, it’s true. The President has done well.
“But there’s sabotage in the system that will not allow insurgency to end; the President has to know this very important point.”
“When he came to Maiduguri two months ago, I said so because between 2011 to 2015, at a time, almost about 22 LGAs were under the insurgents.
“Out of the four main roads that lead to Maiduguri. only one was functional,” the governor added.
He, therefore, called on the President to examine the security situation in the region critically, to ensure the effort of his administration was not in vain.
Recounting his experience during his recent trip to Baga town, Governor Zulum said it was a terrible one.
He insisted that there was no justification for what he described as preventing residents displaced by insurgency from returning to their ancestral homes.
“There’s one very important question that we need to ask, why is the insurgency not ending? There’s sabotage in the system and there’s a need for the President to examine the current situation with a view to resolving it.
The meeting, which was also attended by the state Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, held at the Government House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Also present was the immediate past Governor of Borno, Senator Kashim Shettima, as well as Senator Ali Ndume and members of the State Executive Council.