Borno State Governor, Babagana has declared that the surrender of 1,000 repentant Boko Haram terrorists has left the state government and people with two extremely difficult security situations. According to him, the current security situation, if not collectively handled by stakeholders and the State Government could lead to civil rebellion. Zulum raised those alarms Saturday, while addressing military officers and community leaders at Bama and Gwoza. He said the security situation requires the coming together of Stakeholders, including representatives of attacked communities in the 27 affected councils in the state.
“They are to critically review the pros, cons and implications of the surrender of repentant terrorists,” he said, adding that this could enable the stakeholders to agree on a thought out framework for implementation. He lamented that the people are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender of repentant Boko Haram terrorists. On the massive surge to surrender, he said: “Our people are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender of repentant Boko Haram insurgents. “We have to critically look between two extreme conditions and decide our future.”He suggested that the people have to choose between an endless war or to cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists which is really painful and difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones.”
He declared that it is difficult for all of us, including the military whose colleagues and volunteer fighters have died in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations. He further warned that no one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents, children and other loved ones. Besides, he continued; “for over a decade we have been in this war, and we have lost thousands of fellow citizens. “We don’t know the whereabouts of thousands of others. And we don’t know whether they are alive or dead.
He noted that during the conflict, millions have been made homeless and many wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor to lose their means of livelihoods. He said that during the period of war, only three percent of arable land was cultivated by a few farmers. He said that this led the people to continue to depend on food aid and amid donors’ fatigue with looming famine in IDP camps and host communities.
“The repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are enormous and as someone who has been involved with assessment of the impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years,” he said. He explained that he is in the position to know the endless negative impact Boko Haram has caused to the people in the state.“Accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously offending the feelings of victims with the potential of civil rebellion. He warned that there could also be a lot of risks, if Boko Haram fighters willing to surrender are rejected in their communities. He therefore urged the over 1,000 repentant terrorists to join Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terror group.
According to him, it will swell the ranks of fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed. “While travelling along Bama/Gwoza road yesterday (Saturday), I saw many people cultivating their farmlands by the roadside. “This is an indication of emerging peace, which we have to sustain in order to salvage our people,” noting that the people must come together to carefully analyze the two extremes and come up with a workable framework. On the road map for peace, he said: “I’ll engage in high level consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, service chiefs and resident security heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, National and State Assembly members, academics and other stakeholders, including victims of insurgency.” He said the meeting was to enable stakeholders to critically review the security situation and come up with a framework to move forward.
