Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima today warned that Boko Haram members may continue to wreak havoc on residents of the state as they are more motivated than officers of the Nigerian military.
“Bottom line is that we need more resources, more vote on ground. In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police, they are doing their best given the circumstances they have found themselves in. But honestly Boko Haram are better armed and are better motivated than our own troops”.
He also noted that from all indications, it is absolutely impossible to defeat them.
“Believe me, I am (an) eternal optimist as I have always said. But I am also a realist. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram,” he said.
“I made it emphatically clear to Mr. President that Boko Haram are better armed and better motivated, anybody who is following events in this country can attest to the fact that they have a very smooth sail overrunning communities, killing people.
“Have we ever succeeded in thwarting any of their plans? They went to Konduga and did what they wanted to do; they held sway for several hours before they left. They were in Kauri, Izge.
Shetima was speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and Security Chiefs in the State House on Monday.
The governor called for recruitment of more troops to the state calling on Nigerian leaders to stop playing the ostrich describing what is happening in his state as a war.
The governor, who said that what is happening in his state is caused by a failure of leadership, wondered why the Boko Haram sect will overrun several communities in his state without a challenge.
