Boko Haram insurgency did not originate from Borno, says Monarch

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Borno, Latest Politics Friday, March 20th, 2015

THE Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, has declared that it is erroneous to trace the roots of the Boko Haram insurgency to Borno State, insisting that insurgency was “imported into this state” from one of the four neighbouring states in the North-East sub-region of the country.

El-Kanemi, who spoke on Thursday when the Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel
Madaki, presented him with his Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs), lamented that the insurgency has given rise to over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri metropolis, the state capital.

His words: “As I address you on this insurgency, only two First Class Emirs are still staying in their chiefdoms; five other Emirs of Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Askira and Uba are all taking refuge here in Maiduguri, the state capital.

“We have about two million IDPs in Maiduguri; our people were displaced and their houses were burnt. They have been made to go through wanton destruction. Palaces were taken over by insurgents. We have five Emirs residing in Maiduguri; we only have two emirs still in their domains.”

On the impression that the Boko Haram insurgency

has its roots in the state, El-Kanemi said: “This problem was not initiated here but was brought to us from one of our sister states in the North-East of Nigeria. The problem was brought on us and taken to neighbouring states and gradually it has found its way into neighbouring countries.”

He added: “We have been made to live in fear. We are encircled by insurgents, and it is so sad that getting out of Maiduguri is difficult. You can hardly travel 10 kilometres from here without being attacked. The only safe passage cannot really be said to be safe as there are pockets of attack on the route — the Maiduguri-Kano highway.”

The monarch urged the electoral body to ensure that the IDPs within Maiduguri are not disenfranchised.

He said it was no fault of theirs that they had to flee their homelands, noting that everything must be done to ensure that they are allowed to vote during the forthcoming elections.

Responding, Madaki said the PVCs that were
yet to be brought to the state would be delivered before the end of the week.

He equally stated that all that was needed for a hitch-free election were available, assuring that the electoral body was prepared to have a credible election.

-Guardianwp_posts