By Sadiq Abubakar Maiduguri
Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, has described Boko Haram’s violent attacks on geologists and exploration workers from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the University of Maiduguri as “a tragic setback in the fi ght against Boko Haram and in eff orts to boost Nigeria’s economic fortunes.” In a statement emailed to journalists by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, he said since he fi rst got information concerning the attack on his way to visit the President in London; he hasn’t been his normal self and is yet to recover from the shock of that attack. “I haven’t been myself normal self since I received information on that attack.
What happened in the fi rst instance was a tragic setback in the fi ght against Boko Haram and in Nigeria’s eff ort to expand its economic fortunes. I am deeply pained by this incident especially coming at a time when we were beginning to pick up the pieces of our lives. Even though the attack should never have happened given the successes recorded by the Military and multi-national joint forces since 2015, I nonetheless still deem it necessary to commend the military for re-mobilising and countering the initial gains of the insurgents. On behalf of government and people of Borno state, I mourn and salute the soldiers and our sons in the Civilian JTF who paid the supreme price by giving their lives in this fi ght. I commiserate with their families and loved ones. “For now, I am still waiting for full details concerning the ambush by the insurgents and counter attack by the military to fully ascertain number and identity of victims. But pending report to me, I mourn and salute any worker or supportive staff who might have lost his or her life in the course of trying to contribute in boosting Nigeria’s economy through exploration activities in the Chad basin. My heart goes to the families of every victim.
Th e Borno state government will never forsake the survivors of those who lost their lives defending Borno or in service to our country. “On our part, (and as can be corroborated by all security agencies, youth volunteers and hunters involved in the fi ght against Boko Haram), the Borno state government has never lost focus in doing whatever is within its powers in supporting the Nigerian Armed Forces, in funding and equipping the Civil JTF and other volunteers, in mobilising and passing on intelligence generated from communities and in regularly briefi ng all those concerned with the fi ght against Boko Haram. “I must say that in all my series of meetings with the Presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari and the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo have jointly and individually shown tremendous political will to end this carnage once and for all. I assure the good people of Borno state and other Nigerians that we are not resting on oars.”
