Governor Shettima
Borno Elders’ Forum, BEF, has called on the federal government to ensure that the Boko Haram ravaged Northeastern region got the same treatment with the Niger Delta in the area of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the area.
A press statement on Wednesday signed by its chairman, Amb. Usman Gaji Galtimari, also said that communities reclaimed by troops were not yet safe, advising that elections should be held in the IDPs camps.
BEF saluted the Nigerian military, multi-national forces and all other security agencies involved in ongoing counter insurgency operations, as well as the ‘Civilian JTF’ who at the risk of personal safety, volunteered their lives to support security agencies in defense of Borno and its citizens.
The group condoled with and commiserate with all families that either lost loved ones, friends, neighbors and associates or sustained injuries and lost property over time, since Borno became inflicted with the scourge of insurgency.
The statement continued: “We decided to speak today, as a matter of urgency to quickly respond to an emerging decision that is being contemplated, from what is coming out from some sections of the Nigerian Media.
“We are hearing suggestions from some key leaders contemplating the immediate return of people either living at Internally Displaced Persons camp in Borno State, Adamawa, Bauchi, Lagos among places within Nigeria or taking refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic on account of threats to their lives and occupation of their ancestral homes by insurgents. Thankfully, many of communities are said to have been recovered to the Glory of Allah.
“However, we are disturbed by thoughts and speeches being made towards returning displaced persons to these communities that have just been reclaimed. Let us make it very clear, that our concerns have nothing to do with procedures regarding the March 28 and April 11 General elections.
“BEF is an apolitical forum whose sons have respectful rights to be associated with any registered political party of their choices. Our focus is our citizens. We have an obligation towards all sons and daughters of Borno State as elders of the State.
“We think is too early to even start talking about anyone going back to any of these reclaimed territories. The Military had said about three weeks ago, that part of the reasons it took it a longer time to enter territories being occupied by insurgents was because of the need to regularly get rid of mines buried on most routes by insurgents.
“If mines could have been buried along routes, what more of communities where the insurgents lived? What more of homes they forcefully occupied? There is also the fact known to most of us that some insurgents fled out of council headquarters they occupied while the military was on the way.
“In some cases, the insurgents fled with young boys and girls, from accounts given by some victims that escaped from occupied territories. Some of these accounts have in fact, been published by some media houses like today’s edition of the Daily Trust, dated Wednesday, March 18, 2015 (page 7).
“We are always aware and this was to be expected, that insurgents fled to villages outside headquarters of local government areas. We have had reoccurring attacks along Ngamdu-Maiduguri road which is just some 100 kilometres away from Maiduguri that is considered the safest part of the State given security presence.
“We are no doubt likely to have insurgents in villages around most of the reclaimed territories and that is not to say that the military didn’t do well. It is only natural that people retreat in war to either flee or regroup and whichever way is chosen, any unarmed civilian that is cited could be a target of severe revenge from what we know of insurgents in Borno State.
“We request from the Federal Government to immediately set up a Presidential Committee saddled with making proper assessment of all liberated communities, taking record of the massive destructions of residential houses, primary healthcare centres, general hospitals, markets, farms, shops, primary, secondary and tertiary schools, public buildings, security formations, townhalls, palaces of traditional rulers that are necessary for community policing, community mobilization and dispute settlements; taking record of victims and coming out with well thought out plan of action to work with Governments of affected States.
“We equally wish to plead that our people should under no circumstance be disenfranchised. We strongly advise that the forth-coming elections should hold. The internally displaced persons should be allowed to vote from their camps as earlier agreed by INEC.
“If elections will hold in volatile nations like Afganistan and Iraq their should be no reason to deny Nigerians under any condition of exercising their civic rights. We cautioned that reasons should be prevail for the nation to continue to be in peace.
“We urge the Federal and Borno State Governments not to think about returning anyone to these communities without being first sure that they are safe and reconstructed with victims helped back on their feats.
“We thank all those who played or are playing any roles to help Borno State overcome it’s tribulations and we pray that Allah rewards everyone abundantly. We pray that security agencies succeed in their ongoing efforts and we pray for the return of sustainable peace in all parts of Nigeria and for our country to prosper to enviable heights that was desired by our Nationalists who made great sacrifices for our Independence as a Nation and for a united and strong Nigeria.”
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