Boko Haram Controls 24 LGs In Borno – Senator Zanna
Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Khalifa Zanna has revealed that the Boko Haram has taken over 24 out of the 27 local government Areas of Borno State.
Zanna, whose nephew, Shuaibu Mohammed Bama, an alleged Boko Haram kingpin was arrested in his house in October last year by the Joint Task Force (JTF), claimed that numerous young men in the state were now joining Boko Haram everyday. Zanna’s interview was monitored on Sahara Reporters’ television at the weekend.
He said: “23/24 local governments of the 27 in Borno State are under the effective control of Boko Haram. Numerous young men all around Borno State are joining Boko Haram by the day. There are three different groups: the real Boko Haram in the name of Sharia, criminal Boko Haram and political Boko Haram.” He hinted that the sect ab initio wanted amnesty, but the Federal Government treated the issue with levity. He
added that Federal Government’s refusal to cash on that particular window of opportunity further gave the sect the effrontery to expand their tentacles.
“In the beginning, Boko Haram wanted amnesty. At that time, the government rejected it and this made Boko Haram stronger. There must be a will by the government for the amnesty to work. I have never advocated for amnesty. My own solution is to dialogue with the people and rehabilitate Borno community,” Zanna said. Senator blasted the sect, saying it had no power to implement the Sharia Law in the country. “This call for Sharia Law in Nigeria is just a gimmick. Boko Haram has no power to effect this. President Jonathan had never called any of the senators in Borno State to find out what is going on in the state,” he stated. It will be recalled that Senator Zanna had openly explained his relationship with one of the Boko Haram leaders who was allegedly arrested in his Borno Country home by members of the JTF.
He had stated: “They said they arrested the man in the house of a lawmaker in Damboa Road, and there is no lawmaker in Damboa Road except me. They did not arrest him in my house, they went to my house but did not find him, and instead they arrested children in my house and put them inside hot sun and started beating them.” “And they asked them whether they know Shuaibu Bama, and one of the boys answered yes. He then took them to where they arrested Shuaibu Bama. Shuaibu Bama is a son of my sister. But the lie is what they are saying that they arrested him in my house, which is lie. And we cannot hide or harbour a Boko Haram sect member. And since he was not arrested in my house, they should go and investigate his relationship with people they arrested him in their house.
I don’t know anything about it.” Meanwhile, condemnation and continued to trail the alleged mass killings of several civilians in Borno State by the JTF and Boko Haram sect members. The United States Government and Britain have called for a probe into the alleged mass killings of civilians and destruction of property in Baga and Bama towns of Borno State. The US warned that the growing insecurity in the country had become a threat to the overall stability in Nigeria as well the entire sub region. “We are deeply concerned about reports of excessive use of force by Nigerian security forces in the name of combating Boko Haram, including extra-judicial killings, prolonged detention and disappearances.
“We are concerned that such an indiscriminate, force-based approach to counter terrorism is increasing extremism and decreasing confidence in the Federal Government,” a statement obtained by Daily Sun read. In a similar statement, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague said: “I am deeply saddened by reports of multiple deaths in the town of Bama in North-East Nigeria, following an attack by an extremist group. “My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims and all those affected. This is the latest in a series of extremist attacks on innocent civilians in Borno State.
These attacks have no justification and I condemn them in the strongest terms. “The growing insecurity and escalation of hostilities in North-eastern Nigeria is of deep concern. The attack in Bama follows the terrible loss of lives in the town of Baga last month and disturbing allegations of human rights violations. “The British Government supports Nigeria in tackling the challenges posed by terrorists and extremists violence. However, the protection of civilians is of vital importance.”
