The Shehu of Borno; Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi has
lamented the killings of 13 district heads and dozens of ward heads
during over a decade long insurgency.
The Boko Haram insurgency, has also claimed 36,000 lives with
destruction of property worth N3.42 trillion in Borno, Adamawa and
Yobe states.
The monarch decried killings at the weekend at his Maiduguri palace,
when Special Duties Senate Committee, led by Sen. Abubakar Yusuf paid
a courtesy visit.
According to El-Kanemi, the insurgency has displaced 7.65 million
people and are taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) camps.
“This crisis begins in July, 2009, following a disagreement between
the Izala and Yusufiyya Islamic sects in Maiduguri metropolis,” he
said, lamenting that the crisis snowballed into attacks on police
stations to cart way arms and ammunitions in various police stations.
Continued; “Gradually, they (insurgents) moved their operations from
Maiduguri to local government headquarters and other towns of Borno.
“In the course of their operations, the Borno Emirate Council lost
about 13 district heads in addition to dozens of ward heads, killed in
their respective domains.”
He noted that activities of the criminal elements have not deterred
district and village heads from being proactive in reporting their
activities to security agencies.
He therefore, called on Federal Government to release more funds to
the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to meet humanitarian
needs of people affected in a decade long Boko Haram insurgency.
He added that the insurgents, also destroyed private and public
buildings, including health and water supply facilities across the
state.
He maintained that increased funding to the commission, will fast
track the reconstruction of destroyed communities. “There should also
be an intervention programmes toward empowering IDPs in camps and host
communities,” he pleaded.
He said this was inevitable; in view of huge destruction and losses
incurred during Boko Haram war in the state.
El-Kanemi commended President Muhammadu Buhari and members of National
Assembly for establishing the commission to address massive
humanitarian crises in the northeast.
While commending State Government prioritize welfare of IDPs and peace
building, Sen. Yusuf disclosed that; “we’re in Borno state to assess
the performance of NEDC in the rebuilding and resettling processes to
bring lasting peace in region.”
He assured that with current efforts of the military in
counter-terrorism and insurgency operations, the crises would become a
thing of the past.
He explained that the Senate delegation was on the spot assessment of
the activities of commission in the last one year.
