By Emmanuel Nduka
Two Nigerian Governors, Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State have cried out to the Federal Government for help, stating that terrorists are overrunning their states.
Zulum who spoke when he received the Senate Committee on Army in Maiduguri, affirmed that fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are now stronger than Boko Haram, and capable of wreaking havoc not only in Borno, but in other parts of the country if not stopped.
In his own vein, Matawalle said bandits were being released without trial by competent courts of law and that over 600,000 people are now Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Matawalle made his position known when he received a delegation of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Defence.
Zulum informed that Abadam and Guzamala LGAs are currently under the control of Boko Haram, even as the Federal Government had consistently said no part of Nigeria is under Boko Haram occupation.
Attesting to this, locals said they have continued to pay taxes and levies to the terrorists to have access to their farms and markets.
Zulum also expressed concern over the growing presence of ISWAP in the southern part of Borno after dislodging fighters loyal to the late Abubakar Shekau.
“I must commend the Nigerian Army for the relative peace in many parts of the state but I want to appeal to the military to take the war against the insurgents and chase them out because ISWAP is currently recruiting fighters in some parts of the state.
“If nothing is done to check and tackle the growing presence of ISWAP fighters who are better armed, better equipped, more deadly, more sophisticated and receive more funds than Boko Haram, it will be disastrous not only to Borno State but the country in general.
“They (ISWAP) are growing spontaneously and it is not difficult for us to address these problems; we need to pursue ISWAP at this early stage.
“ISWAP fighters are mounting checkpoints between Damboa and Biu; they are collecting taxes from communities because just three days ago, I got security information that they held a party (ceremony) with over 300 machines. Something needs to be done especially in the axis of Askira, Chibok and Damboa.
“Another issue is that two of our local government headquarters are still under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, Malumfatori in Abadam Local Government and Guzamala.
“We want the owners of these two local governments to take over, that is the government of Borno State and the two local governments.
“I have commended the Nigerian Army for the relative peace in many parts of the state and there is nothing wrong if I ask them to wake up from the slumber in addressing the problems of ISWAP,” the governor said.
In Zamfara, Governor Matawalle said bandits were being released after they were arrested without being charged to court to answer the atrocities they committed, this, he said, could be partly responsible for the persistence of armed banditry in Zamfara and adjoining states.
He held that the failure to punish apprehended criminals emboldened them to be killing harmless civilians.
While the governor did not name those behind the release of the terrorists, security operatives had severally claimed that they arrested bandits and their collaborators but nothing was being heard about their arraignment.
“Another problem we have noticed is that despite the remarkable zeal of our troops, they lack modern equipment with which to prosecute modern warfare.
“Prosecution of modern warfare depends largely on modern war equipment and gadgets. It is very vital for these modern war instruments to be provided to our troops if we are to win this fight against banditry in Zamfara and the North West.
“It is evident that unless enough modern equipment is provided to our security forces to fight the war effectively, the country faces the danger of anarchy.
“This could be foreseen from the recent calls by some leaders for their people to take up arms to defend themselves. It is a recipe for lawlessness when the state loses its monopoly over the instruments of coercion.
“As a matter of urgency, the federal government should procure Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and deploy them across the country.
“If 1,000 APCs could be made available, they would go a long way in turning the tide of the war against the bandits in a short period of time, Insha Allah,” he said.
Meanwhile, a military source maintained that the frontline troops have been well-equipped since the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor took over the mantle of leadership as Defence chief.
“You know they have started politics. This is 2022. Please, don’t listen to anybody, our troops are well-equipped, and their morale is very high,” the military source said.
The Nigerian Government delegation to Zamfara led by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), also included the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali,
Others were the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouk and the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
