Insurgency is almost over, says Shettima

Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, says compared to three years ago, there is cause to celebrate the defeat of the Boko Haram sect.

He said this while speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with Abba Kyari, chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The governor was accompanied on the visit by Ali Ndume and Abu Kyari, senators from Borno state.

Shettima said the meeting with Kyari was ahead of the visit of Buhari to the state as well as the army day celebration.

Buhari is expected to visit Borno on Friday.

“Well, the ongoing insurgency problem is largely over, we might be having some hiccups but when you compare the past with the present, we have every cause to celebrate,” he said.

“We have pockets of the insurgents in inlands around the Lake Chad and the Sambisa forest but when you juxtapose the sorry state of affairs three, four years ago and the current situation we are in, I think there is cause for celebration.

“There is no cause for alarm.”

The current administration has consistently maintained that it has won the war against insurgency but the sect has disputed the claim, especially through suicide attacks.