Dasukigate is blood money, says Shettima

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, says the money meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram but which went into private pockets “is blood money”.

Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), is undergoing trial for allegedly diverting security funds meant to equip the military to fight the insurgency in the north-east.

The affair is now nicknamed “dasukigate” on the social media.

While playing host to Ladan Salihu, the director-general of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, in Maiduguri during the week, Shettima said the “arms scandal” is a crime against humanity.

He said: “The revelations from dasukigate have shown that some sections of the northern political class and their children were all involved in this massive crime against humanity.

“This is blood money. What is the difference between all the revelations and the blood money (blood diamond) in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Congo?

“The money meant to prosecute the war on terror was inhumanly diverted while thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed.”

He called for speedy trial of everyone involved in the sustenance of the insurgency “by the diversion of the funds”.

The governor also said the security situation in his state had improved.

“Six months ago, all the entry points into Maiduguri were inaccessible except to Kano,” he said.

“Months ago when I raised the issue of  Boko Haram insurgency, I was called names and vilified, but I had to dare the tiger. I told the world what we were going through then in Maiduguri.

“I know by speaking out, I would face dire consequences but I had the mandate of over six million people of Borno state to tell the world what was happening.”

He explained that it was impossible to move 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri because Boko Haram had encircled the town.

“Twenty local government areas were under Boko Haram but thank God today only two are not completely accessible, that is Abadam and Mobbar,” he revealed.