Borno Monarch Accuses FG Of Allowing Boko Haram To Thrive

FG allowed Boko Haram to Survive –Shehu of Bama

Borno Monarch Says FG Allowed Boko Haram To Grow In Nigeria

Shehu of Bama Kingdom in Borno State, Shehu Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi has blamed the Federal Government for allowing Boko Haram ample space to operate and unleash terror on Nigerians.

El-Kanemi said the growth of the insurgents was a failure of the state.

Naija News learnt  that the monarch stated  this while speaking at the unveiling of the Ejike Chukwu Educational Foundation at Etekwuru, Egbema in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State where dozens of undergraduates were enrolled for scholarship.

The Shehu, who was represented by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Baba- Kura Kaigama, accused the Federal Government of not initially taking the issue of Boko Haram seriously.

The development, according to him, led to the terror group gaining grounds with attendant huge loss of human lives.

He said: “Why I said Boko Haram is a creation of the state is that at a time the Federal Government and the government of the day didn’t take it seriously. They didn’t come in to arrest the situation at the beginning of the uprising. They became a law unto themselves.That is why I said it was the failure of the state.

“They killed somebody like General Muhammed Shuwa, who was one of the excellent generals that fought to keep Nigeria as one, but up to date, nothing happened and nobody has been prosecuted.”

While acknowledging that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has diminished the insurgents, the Shehu, however, lamented that the situation where the group now attacks soft targets.

“Though Boko Haram is now a shell of its former self, they need to be mopped up because they are still around, rampaging and attacking soft targets. “Just yesterday, there was a bomb blast in Maiduguri where a number of people died. So, they need to be mopped up.”

He commended the people of Egbema for their peaceful coexistence, which he said had allowed their children become beneficiaries of university scholarships.

Also speaking, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said seeing a number of young children filing out to be enrolled for scholarships, gave him a sense of sadness about what is happening in parts of northern state where children are abducted and denied education.

He disclosed that Iwuanyanwu Foundation has initiated a move to get female pupils in the affected northern states to come down south and complete their education.

The special guest of honour and Nigeria’s former permanent representative in United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, charged the beneficiaries not to underrate themselves as a result of their background, but explore every opportunity that comes their way.

President of the foundation, Ejike Chukwu, said: ‘’The two most important things in my life are my love for God and the downtrodden. I am worried by the high level of illiteracy in our society and I am determined to help as many people as possible to overcome this debilitating challenge.”