Boko Haram Attack On Borno Governor A Sabotage – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the recent Boko Haram attack on Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

Naija News reports that the attack, which was said to be an ambush, resulted in the killing of 15 security personnel including soldiers and policemen attached to the Governor’s convoy.

A security source quoted by Nigeria News on condition of anonymity said eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of a government-backed local militia were killed in the attack on the Governor’s convoy near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

The Jihadist fighters opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as the convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

This was the second attack on the Governor’s convoy by the Islamic terrorist group.

In a statement signed by Garba Shehu, the President’s Spokesman on Saturday, Buhari described the ambush on the entourage of Zulum as an orchestrated sabotage against the long-planned return of displaced persons to their local communities.

“With deep sympathy, the loss of lives of security men on the convoy, ahead of the return of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, commiserating with their families and loved ones,” he said.

Buhari further called on the State government, working with security and intelligence agencies, to remain firm in their determination to restore normalcy to all communities liberated from Boko Haram terrorists.

He urged security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to check sabotage, sanitize the roads, venues and locations well in advance of returning IDPs, while working closely with local communities.

The President commended the gallantry of service personnel who repelled the deadly ambush, as well the sincere determination of Governor Zulum, who has been working with armed forces to end the menace of terrorists, rebuild homes and return IDPs to regular life.