President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind close-doors with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting, Zulum said he briefed the president on the security situations in the state.
“Basically I am here to discuss with the President on how best the federal government will strengthen the existing situation on ground in Borno state to improve on the current security situation and the means of livelihood to the entire people of Borno state.
“We want to address the root causes of the insurgency, the issue of access to roads, access to farmlands, strengthening our civilian Joint Task Force as well as the military in order to perform their job better than before,” he said.
The governor also told journalists that the use of military might is not enough to end the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in the north eastern part of the country.
He said there was the need for the federal government to explore other options rather than the use of force against Boko Haram insurgents.
“Some incidents occurred two three days ago where about 40 people were killed in Konduga. By and large we are aware of steps the president is willing to take that will virtually bring that issue to a standstill.
“But most importantly there is need for the federal government to also open other opportunities of bringing down the crisis rather than the kinetic force. It is also important for those people who have been forced to join the insurgency, if they are integrated into the society, I think this will be good.
“There is an existing policy within the military called operation safe corridor just to strengthen the system. By and large we are optimism that Borno state will bounce back again,” he said.
He said the state government is collaborating with the military and para-military agencies in order to ensure adequate protection for its citizens.
“I am trying to strengthen the communities in the state to be resilient enough especially by providing them with the needed logistics like vehicles so that they can make surveillances in support of the military.
“But by and large, our discussion with the military has gone well and we are doing everything possible within our reach to ensure that stability return to Borno state,’’ he said.
