Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has alleged that the Internally Displaced Persons are now being recruited into Boko Haram .
NAIJA NEWS NG reports that Governor Zulum said during an interview with the BBC that his administration has returned displaced persons back to Mafa and Kukawa. He also said that plans are in top gear to return IDPs to Kawuri . He added the displaced persons are bored and tired of living in camps because they are not getting what they really want.
Zulum said;
“Truly, the Boko Haram sect is working on people to join them. This is frightening. If the IDPs living in camps could not get what they are looking for, especially the opportunity to go back to their various towns and return to farm, they may be forced to join the Boko Haram sect.
“It is important that they go back to their various towns because no government can continue to be feeding them continuously.
“The sect members are hiding at the Lake Chad area and the Sambisa forest. There will still be problems unless they are traced to their hiding places. Chasing them away from their headquarters is one of the solutions towards ending insurgency.”
Responding to question on if the insurgents still occupy some places in Nigeria, Governor Zulum said there is no place occupied by insurgents in Nigeria .
“Truly, there is no place under the occupation of Boko Haram. But there are places with no people there. What I mean is that people are yet to return to their places of origin.”
“I swear by Allah, before the coming of Buhari, the security situation in Borno had deteriorated. At that time, 20 local government areas were under Boko Haram. Now, it’s not so.”
Zulum added that the Nigerian Military are doing their best in the fight against Boko Haram .
“One surest way to end Boko Haram is ensuring a good relationship between the military and civilians.
“I keep on saying wherever you go; you will see the military and vigilante together. But what I am saying is that the military should provide protection to the civilians to enable them return home and go back to their farms.
“But what is disturbing us is, when shall this war with Boko Haram come to an end?”
He said anything done to hinder the fight against Boko Haram including failure to use money to acquire arms is an act of sabotage, he said this while recounting the attack on his convoy in Baga.
“I was not afraid because I rely on Allah. Nothing will happen to a Muslim unless by the will of Almighty Allah.
“I was attacked with bombs but Almighty Allah protected me. We must be brave; if we continue to fear, the war will not end.”
