Borno Killing: Nigerian Military Overwhelmed, Need Support – Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has stated that the Nigerian military is overwhelmed and need support to tackle the security challenges rocking the nation.

Fayemi stated this on Wednesday when governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) paid a visit to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno over the recent killing of 43 farmers by members of Boko Haram.

Other governors who paid a visit to Zulum include the Governor of Sokoto and the Vice Chairman of the Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and that of Niger State, Abubakar Bello.

In the statement titled, ‘Governors Forum: Security challenges are beyond military’, Fayemi said security challenges are beyond the Nigerian military.

He said, “But what happened in the last three days is by far beyond any imagination, it was a massacre and it was one that none of us could come to terms easily.

“The reality we can all say, and I personally as security scholar, the reality I can see is that our military is overwhelmed. Our military is no longer in a position to single-handedly tackle this menace effectively.

“It is not a criticism of our military, if one were to suggest a coalition beyond that will even include our neighboring countries, who are probably more experienced in fighting an asymmetrical war. It will not be a loss of our pride as a country.”

“This is not a visit to gratify ourselves, no, it is an expression of also our own frustration.

“We can’t bring back the people we have lost in the last couple of days, but if we do not take the necessary steps the entire nation will be consumed by this insurgency,” Fayemi added.