The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome terrorism in the northeast, but asked citizens of the region to maintain the right attitude in the fight against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, that has carried out series of attacks in the state.
In a state-wide broadcast on Friday, Governor Shettima said: “I am confident that together we can overcome this challenge. Our condition cannot be permanent, no condition, ever was. We can overcome this problem with the right attitude from the top to the bottom. Indeed we can”.
He condemned the attacks by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, which he said had a doctrine that was completely at variance with the religion of Islam which they claim to promote.
“They promote a doctrine that negates the dignity and existence of humanity on earth, despite Allah’s decree in the glorious Quran, that He has dignified the human creature, prohibited unjust killings and made the religion of Islam that which does not sanction compulsion in a multi-faith society like ours.”
He sympathised with families that have lost their loved ones and property in the recent killings carried out by the members of the sect.
Mr Shettima reassured the indigenes of the state government’s commitment to ensuring that the insurgency was brought to an end soon.
“We had faced and survived threats in years past and we shall survive this insha Allah. We are confident of victory through a reinforcement of our armed forces and the collective will of all of us, citizens, who are committed to defeating the Boko Haram scourge. Collectively as a people, we have exhibited great determination. Our youth volunteers have made us proud. We are all in this, fellow citizens. We all have roles to play. One of these roles is the devoted offer of prayers and ceaseless appeal to the Almighty to make us victorious.
“In the past, our armed forces have proven their mettle even in global warfare where they were in foreign terrain in the Second World War, in the Congo, in Liberia, in Sierra Leon, in the Sudan and elsewhere. Our armed forces have also, during the Civil War, successfully saved our country from dismemberment. Our armed forces that have outstandingly proven their capability in such difficult times can by the grace Allah defeat the Boko Haram insurgency with overwhelming federal reinforcement in all areas of their needs,” he stressed.
The Borno State governor, last year, said that the members of the Boko Haram sect were better equipped than the Nigerian military, but the Federal government dismissed the statement, saying it was unpatriotic.
In the State broadcast, Governor Shettima appealed to the Federal Government to redouble its present efforts in order to witness a historic and speedy containment of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He stressed that the Borno State government would continue to do whatever it could to compliment the constitutional roles of the Federal Government in the battle.
Mr Shettima reassured the people of Borno State that measures had been taken to ensure that the insurgency would end soon and stressed the need for citizens to provide useful information to security agencies.
“Hiding information that threatens us never helps us or others. We must be very vigilant in all our communities. We must take copious note of anyone or anything strange around us but without raising false alarm or spreading any form of rumour that will cause panic. Let us try to reach out to those in position of authority to verify information concerning public safety or related matters,” he further stressed.
The state-owned Radio and Television stations have been directed to immediately come up with programmes that would have dedicated telephone lines that could be reached by citizens for enquiries on public issues in relation to security.
The programmes are also expected to help in orientation and mobilisation of victims and help them in locating missing persons and keeping citizens regularly updated on matters affecting security, victims support and their comfort.
