THE ADVENT OF 'BOKO-ISTAN'

Bokoistan: Boko Haram Rules Eight of 27 Local Govt in Borno State – Gov Shettima.

Maiduguri –  Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Tuesday expressed worry on how Boko Haram had taken over eight out of the 27 local government areas of the state.

Shettima disclosed this while receiving members of the Federal Government Sub-committee of the Victims Supports Fund in Maiduguri.

He said that the continued attacks on communities in the state had created hardships on the people.

“The insurgents have taken over nearly eight LGAs in the state.

“They have taken over Gamboru-Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Askira-Uba and part of Konduga local government areas.

“The insurgents have also carried out recent attacks in Abadam, Kukawa,” he said.

Shettima, however, expressed optimism that the insurgency would end in a short while, saying “I strongly believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are going to bounce back very soon by the grace of God.”

Speaking earlier, retired Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, the sub-committee chairman on data collection, had commended the governor for his supports to insurgency victims.

“We commend the responsible leadership of Shettima for what he has been doing in helping victims of insurgency in the state,’’ Wuyep said.

He said that the state alone could not be able to effectively provide help to victims of insurgency, especially with the renewed attacks on villages.

“Borno alone cannot be able to handle the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) because lots of things needed to be done.

“The Federal Government will step in to provide supports to the IDPs,’’ Wuyep said.

He said that the sub-committee was set up to gather data on the number of IDPs and infrastructure that were destroyed for  government to intervene.

“The president is worried about the plight of the IDPs that is why the victim support fund was inaugurated.

“Our sub-committee was set up to get the details on the ground so that government can intervene,’’ Wuyep said.

He said that the sub-committee decided to visit Borno as its first place of visit because of the enormity of damage done by the insurgents in the state.