₦airaland Forum

Fresh Boko Haram Attacks: "I Notified Nigerian Military But My Request Was Ignored" – Borno Governor Zulum
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Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has expressed deep concern over renewed Boko Haram attacks in Kirawa town, Gwoza Local Government Area, following the withdrawal of Cameroonian troops that had been stationed there.

Zulum, who on Friday mobilised civilian JTF fighters and Nigerian troops to the area, said he had earlier warned the Nigerian military about the dangers of leaving the community without security presence.

“I duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving this town without security. This is a border community. Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, Malamfatori, among others are border communities that have to be protected because of their strategic importance," the governor was quoted by DailyTrust.

According to him, despite the warning, “unfortunately, my request did receive the deserved attention, and the insurgents came on Wednesday and vandalised everything we worked so hard to rebuild.”

The governor lamented the destruction of property and loss of lives in the attack. "Two lives were lost but 50 houses and our heavy duty equipment, and eight vehicles were burnt down. We thanked God the casualties were not much,” he stated.

Zulum disclosed that the Nigerian Army has now agreed to redeploy soldiers to the town and that the state government would support local defence groups with more logistics.

“The second measure we have undertaken is in the area of providing support to our gallant civilian JTF and vigilante. I listened to them and we will provide them with the needed equipment to safeguard the town,” he said.

The governor further appealed to the federal government to urgently release funds to strengthen security operations in the state.
"We are pleading with the federal government, and the Chief of Defence Staff to release funds and procure equipment so that the military operations should begin in annex since the rainy season is about to be over,” Zulum said.

He also urged the military to show greater dedication in combating insurgency. “I’m also pleading with the Nigerian military to be more committed, because what matters is not the number of soldiers we need to keep here but how committed they are to fight back the terrorists during military operations,” he added.

Zulum warned that sporadic or inconsistent military operations were contributing to the resurgence of attacks. “Above all, we need Military operations, for sometimes, military operations were not conducted in Borno State, and that has been instrumental to what we have been witnessing now. The renewed insurgence attacks,” he said.

He reassured residents not to panic but to remain resilient. “You need not to panic. I see no reason why very few members of Boko Haram will come to defeat the entire community without resistance,” he said.

On Friday, SaharaReporters reported that more than 5,000 people fled Nigeria's northeast into neighbouring Cameroon after Boko Haram militants seized the border town of Kirawa in Borno state, residents and community leaders stated.

The insurgents, operating in Borno state, the epicentre of a 16-year conflict driven by Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified their attacks this year against civilians and security forces.

The assault late Thursday forced the district head, Abdulrahman Abubakar, to abandon his palace, which was burned along with a military barracks and dozens of homes. "I was left with no option but to flee to Cameroon," Abubakar told Reuters by phone. "Residents boarded trucks to seek refuge across the border, while others ran to Maiduguri," the state capital.

Boko Haram has since claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a video showing fighters torching the barracks while chanting "victory belongs to God" as flames lit the night sky.

Residents confirmed that Kirawa was now deserted. "Boko Haram is in control," said Dauda Hassan, who escaped to Pulka, a neighbouring town where troops are stationed.

Thursday’s raid came less than two weeks after Boko Haram fighters stormed Banki, another border town, on September 19, overrunning a military barracks, forcing soldiers to flee, and seizing weapons

Abdul05:
Maybe next time..the military needs official visitation..


Imagine a governor warning about an attack and the military acts deaf... Until the town is in ashes.

kingbee90:
This man and other past governors of Borno need to be questioned as to how Boko Haram grew this BIG in Borno state under their watch.

helinues:
Bro, Zulum is being economical with the truth. Why can't he notified the presidency and get direct order. We are talking about lives here .

The Kwara governor is also blaming Saraki for the unrest in some part of Kwara, isn't that un seriousness from his part

helinues:
That's un seriousness from you. You could have notified the president and get direct order.

All this excuses, blaming is not helping matter.

BafanaBafana:
Direct your questions to Jonathan

kingbee90:
Was Jonathan a governor of Borno state?

helinues:
That's un seriousness from you. You could have notified the president and get direct order.

All this excuses, blaming is not helping matter.

Abdul05:
This strategy shows failure on both fronts----

The governor's repeated alarms without proactive measures... and the military 's delayed response.

Security is not about blame,it is about coordination and accountability...

BafanaBafana:
No he wasn't. Security is the duty of the president ,he commands the armed forces. Jonathan's actions or inactions escalated Boko haram.

Isn't it funny how you blame the president for insecurity in Benue but blame the governor for insecurity in Borno?

Brendaniel:
See how you conveniently removed 8 years of Buhari, what did he use 8 years to do with Boko haram?

Because you have seen someone you hate to throw the blame on, so Boko haram did not exist under Buhari?

You people removed Jonathan claiming he failed to fight Boko Haram and put Buhari, but you are still blaming him after 8 years of Buhari failing to do what you people removed Jonathan for..

Look at the way you people reason, now Tinubu is there and you are still blaming Jonathan for Tinubu's failure....

The wickedness you people are doing to Nigerians eh....

Brendaniel:
And Tinubu who is the leader of all of them who should be coordinating all of them is sleeping and snoring in Aso rock.

You are even laughing telling you that you know your statement is just cruise, the wickedness you people are doing to Nigerians because of tribal and religious support.

Abdul05:
Stop the distraction bros, People warned, people died , the military snoozed --

that is the story not who you think l support

Accusing someone of supporting tribe and religion won't do this country good...

We need to judge base on the fact..

helinues:
Bro those head of the security that Zulum claimed he notified, are they not northerners? Why did they ignore the earlier Intel if not political.

Lagos is currently hosting water race because the state is conducive and secure. When would the north have such privilege of hosting an international event.

The Northerners are their own problem

G0odharddick:
Seems like dividing this country is the best thing to do now.

For once I'm supporting nnamdi kanu

helinues:
President Trump should have sacked all his political appointees due to consistent gun violence in USA . Don't you think

You people exonerated GEJ for the Boko Haram issue but want to be blaming president Tinubu for the insecurity in North.

Abdul05:
Exactly bro, security is not about north or south , it is about leaders doing their jobs. Lagos can host events safely because leaders plan and act..

Northern states need the same commitment not excuses.

helinues:
Bro those head of the security that Zulum claimed he notified, are they not northerners? Why did they ignore the earlier Intel if not political.

Lagos is currently hosting water race because the state is conducive and secure. When would the north have such privilege of hosting an international event.

The Northerners are their own problem

helinues:
President Trump should have sacked all his political appointees due to consistent gun violence in USA . Don't you think

You people exonerated GEJ for the Boko Haram issue but want to be blaming president Tinubu for the insecurity in North.

Abdul05:
Stop the distraction bros,

People warned, people died, and the military snoozed --

that is the story ,not who you think l support.*

Accusing someone of supporting tribe and religion won't do this country any good...

We need to judge based on facts..not assumptions

Brendaniel:
So why was Tinubu blaming Jonathan for Boko haram?

Now he is there you people don't want to blame him, just look at the hypocrisy...

Brendaniel:
What distraction is there, it seems like you guys just love hypocrisy and delusion,,,

let's simplify this whole thing..

You appointed a security guard to protect your family, you traveled for work, then your eldest saw thieves robbing another street and notified the security guard ahead to close the gate and prepare with his arms, he did;t do anything, the thieves came robbed and killed some of your children, you heard this and just continued your work...

Is that what you would do?

But that's what Tinubu is doing and you are here supporting him...

I know you will say it is different fro a family settings, is Tinubu not supposed to be the father of the nation?

is he not supposed to see every Nigerian as his child?

except you are telling us that you and Tinubu don't see it that way...

This is is the same Tinubu blaming Jonathan for killings that happened in a church, but he is the president now and you people don't want to blame him, I just see you people as very wicked and heartless human beings, this evil you people are doing to Nigerians because of tribal and religious bigotry that has finished you people...