The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has pleaded with the federal government to seek the support of the Chadian army in the fight against insurgency.
According to the spokesman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Zulum stated this when he hosted some governors in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Wednesday.
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The Governor reportedly said suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked his convoy twice in the last five days but despite the attacks, he would not be deterred from pursuing his goals.
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“Zulum pleaded with the federal government to ensure that Chadian soldiers are invited to join the Nigeria Army in the fight against insurgency if any meaningful success is to be recorded on the battleground,” the statement read.
“Zulum rationalised that no single army anywhere in the world has ever succeeded in quelling insurgency and requested that the government looked into ways of complementing the efforts of the Nigeria Army with the Chadian soldiers, emphasising it is not to undermine the Nigerian soldiers but to help them in finishing the job within a realistic deadline.
“The situation in our State has become very dire because, everything calls for endurance, commitment and dedication if our people were to be drawn out of the woods.
“Chad Basin used to employ about 10 million people while the Sambisa Grazing Reserve and the Mandara Mountains used to employ about 3 million people but the insurgents have made these places inaccessible to the people.”
The Chairman of NGF, Kayode Fayemi, who led the delegation, said while expressing his support for the governor that “an attack against one is an attack against all”.
He also announced a donation of N100million to the state government.
“Dr Fayemi admonished Prof Zulum to exercise caution in his activities in the state, even though he narrated how the Borno Governor always responded by saying that his life was in the hands of Allah and that death will only come when Allah wills,” the statement read.
“The NGF Chairman announced a donation of one hundred million Naira to the Government and people of Borno State from the NGF before handing the cheque over to the Borno governor.”
