Boko Haram ‘now controlling 8 Borno LGAs’

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, on Tuesday expressed worry on how Boko Haram has taken over eight out of the 27 local government areas of the state.

While receiving members of the federal government sub-committee of the victims supports fund in Maiduguri, Shettima lamented that continued attacks on communities in the state had plunged the people into hardship.

“The insurgents have taken over nearly eight LGAs in the state,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“They have taken over Gamboru-Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Askira-Uba and part of Konduga local government areas. The insurgents have also carried out recent attacks in Abadam, Kukawa.”

However, Shettima expressed optimism that the insurgency would end soon.

“I strongly believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We are going to bounce back very soon by the grace of God.”

Speaking earlier, Jonah Wuyep, a retired air marshal and the sub-committee chairman on data collection, commended the governor for his support to victims of Boko Haram attacks.

“We commend the responsible leadership of Shettima for what he has been doing in helping victims of insurgency in the state,” Wuyep said, noting that the state alone could not effectively provide help to victims of insurgency, especially with the renewed attacks on villages.

“Borno alone cannot be able to handle the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) because lots of things need to be done. The federal government will step in to provide support to the IDPs.”

He said that the sub-committee was set up to gather data on the number of IDPs and infrastructure that were destroyed , in order to pave the way for proper government intervention.

“The president is worried about the plight of the IDPs; that is why the victim support fund was inaugurated.

“Our sub-committee was set up to get the details on the ground so that government can intervene.”

Wuyep said that the sub-committee decided to visit Borno first because of the enormity of damage by insurgents.