“They have been carting away foodstuffs of attacked communities”.
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Speaking to pressmen on Saturday, February 6, during a condolence visit to Dalori village – where 65 persons were reportedly killed recently – he averred that Boko Haram and the Nigerian military share equal control of Borno state. At least 10 people were also killed in a January 29 suicide attack on a market in Gombi in neighboring Adamawa state.
Some residents in Mairi said that the attackers had raided the village using bicycles at about 8.30 pm and began shooting randomly.
Dalori is about 5km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The senator also appealed to the military to strive hard to liberate the 24 local government areas that were either partially or fully controlled by the terrorists. It is not true in the sense that apart from Maiduguri, Bayo and Kwaya-Kusar that can be said to be 100 per cent under the control of the Nigerian Armed Forces, others are not. This seems to be the case of north eastern communities that have suffered repeated attacks by Boko Haram insurgents despite several assurances from the military that the sect has been defeated.
The lawmaker said that other areas, including Mobbar, Abadam and Kala-Balge, were under full control of the insurgents.
“From my count, only three local government are fully liberated, 21 local governments partially occupied by insurgents, that is there is still some level of Boko Haram occupation side by side the military or any other constituted authority”.
“Though Gwoza town has been liberated, there are six wards in Gwoza local government area still occupied by the insurgents. Unless you provide maximum security and return of law and order in these areas, relocating these people would be endangering their lives”.
“People are migrating to Maiduguri en mass as a result fear they may be under attack to tonight or very soon”, Senator Garbai implored.
He said the reconstruction and relocation should still continue in spite of recent attacks.
Ndume, while justifying the government’s claims that Boko Haram had been incapacitated, said that Nigeria does not have a monopoly of terrorist attacks, citing that the United States of America and France have in recent times come under terrorist attacks.
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“What we are trying to do is for Gwoza people to go back to Gwoza because you can not go back to stay in bush”.
