Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has described the $2.1bn meant for the procurement of arms for the Armed Forces fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the north east but was diverted into private pockets “as blood money.”
Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), is currently been prosecuted for alleged disbursement of funds meant for the purchase of arms for the military fighting insurgency in the north-east to some high profile individuals and politicians.
Shettima while playing host to Ladan Salihu, the director-general of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, in Maiduguri said the “arms scandal” is a crime against humanity.
He said, “The revelations from ‘Dasukigate’ have shown that some sections of the northern political class and their children were all involved in this massive crime against humanity.
“This is blood money. What is the difference between all the revelations and the blood money (blood diamond) in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Congo?
“The money meant to prosecute the war on terror was inhumanly diverted while thousands of civilians and soldiers were killed.”
The Governor while stating that the security situation in his state had enjoyed significant improvement, called on relevant authorities to speedy prosecute those involved in the sustenance of the insurgency “by the diverting funds meant for arms procurement”.
“Six months ago, all the entry points into Maiduguri were inaccessible except to Kano.
“Months ago when I raised the issue of Boko Haram insurgency, I was called names and vilified, but I had to dare the tiger. I told the world what we were going through then in Maiduguri.
“I know by speaking out, I would face dire consequences but I had the mandate of over six million people of Borno state to tell the world what was happening.”
Shettima revealed that it was impossible to move 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri because Boko Haram had encircled the town.
“Twenty local government areas were under Boko Haram but thank God today only two are not completely accessible, that is Abadam and Mobbar,” he said.
Comments