Borno Attack: Zulum Was Warned Against Trip, He Ignored Intelligence – Ex-DSS Boss

A former Deputy Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Dennis Amakiri has reacted to the recent attack on Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.

Speaking during a special programme on Channels Television to mark Nigeria’s independence anniversary on Thursday, Amakiri said Governor Zulum was warned earlier against moving out.

“The Governor of Borno State was given the intelligence that this road is not safe, he felt he could go,” he said.

“And being the Chief Executive, he ventured out. He was attacked twice. I hope he will not go again because at least they continue telling him, managing him to make sure that he keeps himself safe.”

The ex-DSS boss explained that there are certain procedures to be carried out before Very Important Persons (VIPs) move.

He noted that if such processes are not meant, the public official is exposed to danger, with the masses berating security officials for not sharing intelligence to avert an impending tragedy.

On September 25, a convoy conveying officials of the Borno State Government was attacked near Monguno town killing at least 11 security operatives among others.

The officials were ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists on Friday while they were journeying to Baga, where Governor Babagana Zulum is expected to receive returning IDPs.

Two days later, the governor faced another attack by the insurgents on Baga-Monguno road in Borno.

Govt’s convoy attack, a growing concern
The attack on Friday is the second of its kind, stirring great concern.

Earlier in July, the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, narrowly escaped a terror attack in Baga town.

Governor Zulum had departed Maiduguri, the state capital for the northern part of the state in continuation of a food distribution programme, and a few kilometers to the town, gunmen opened fire on the governor and his entourage.

Distraught by the attack, Zulum confronted the army expressing his disappointment at the inability of the military to rid Baga and environs of insurgents.

“You have been here for over one year now, there are 1,181 soldiers here; if you cannot take over Baga which is less than 5 km from your base, then we should forget about Baga. I will inform the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the men to other places that they can be useful,” Zulum said.

The governor insisted that there is sabotage in the system that will not allow the insurgency to end in the North East.

He claimed that some elements are trying to frustrate the effort of the government in ending the insurgency, stressing that “President Muhammadu Buhari needs to know the truth”.

The military in reply to Zulum’s claims said the governor’s theories are unfounded.

Mcreloaded:
If that's the case then the governor should be held responsible for the deaths and compensations paid to the family.

stonemasonn:
The same intelligence told us that BH is technically defeated.

backbone503:


He is said to have been warned not to travel by road to Baga. But if the Chief Security Officer of the state can't travel by road to a town he is hoping to resettle his people, how then will the IDPs be brought back and guaranteed of their safety? Zulum had a point to prove by venturing out. At least we now better understand the true security situation of that Baga axis

ivandragon:
But PMB & the dimwits in government keep saying terrorists have been defeated... Or is the governor a soft target?


Lies always have expiry dates but APC & their dimwit supporters are too shortsighted to see it...

Mcreloaded:


Okooooo I pity the next batch to be slaughtered when he wants to prove a point again .

backbone503:


In actual fact, the real Boko Haram has been technically defeated. These attacks are been carried out by a splinter groups. These groups are equally deadly, and employs guerilla tactics in their attacks because they truly can't withstand (head-on) the military and stage spectacular attacks like Boko Haram used to do.

Racoon:
Whao! After all the lies of BH being technically defeated? See how lies can damage someone reputation? So DSS under this regime can even be this cautious yet BH terrorists continue to operates freely? This still affirms that the DSS is complicit in all the atrocities of this terrorists qud.

stonemasonn:
I don't know about splinter groups, but I agree with the guerilla tactics. But BH can be defeated by a carefully planed blockade, and Buhari is the best person for this job, it will be hard for a southern leader to fight BH ruthlessly.

backbone503:


Yeah, with his wealth of military experience and being of the north, Nigerians expect(ed) him to eliminate BH. But unfortunately, its becoming clearer that the war is a little more complicated.

bioemmy:
How about the local people that don't get such intelligence?

If the Chief security officer of a state can be attacked with such frequency and voraciously. It speaks volumes of the safety of lives and property in that part of the country.

Why hasn't such intelligence been long used to defeat the sect?

The governor should be careful, he has his life to live. He should remember his wife and kids. I pray nothing happens to him.

A living dog is better than a dead lion.

StaffofOrayan:



Abegiii
Chad showed that is just a myth
Nothing is complicated

backbone503:


Chad doesn't have one-twentieth of our military might. The fight on the Nigerian end is complicated because it has lots of political undertone. And thats why most of these world powers are not interested in coming in to assist.

StaffofOrayan:


That is not complications, that is enabling
Say Nigeria enables BH

backbone503:


No. Its only complicated. And this is simply because some few ones are feeding fat from the restive situation of that region and also hoping to leverage politically on it. However, Mr. President, the Presidency and the good people of this country (particularly residents of the north east) sincerely want the insurgency to stop so that normalcy can return. Borno used to be one of the most peaceful States in this country.

backbone503:


In actual fact, the real Boko Haram has been technically defeated. These attacks are been carried out by a splinter groups. These groups are equally deadly, and employs guerilla tactics in their attacks because they truly can't withstand (head-on) the military and stage spectacular attacks like Boko Haram used to do.