Boko Haram: Federal Government culpable – Shettima

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Monday indicted the Federal Government in the attacks by Boko Haram on some North Eastern states, especially Borno.
Shettima said members of the Boko Haram sect are better motivated and better armed than the Nigerian military.
He said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on the security situation in the state following the attack over the weekend by the Boko Haram sect in the state.
No fewer than 100 persons were confirmed dead.
At the weekend, gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram attacked several villages, including Izghe in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state, killing hundreds of people.
Governor Shettima said the Federal Government should stop playing the ostrich as the reality on ground is that Nigeria is in a state of war.
He declared further that with the present situation, the Nigerian military cannot win the war against terror.
He, however, commended the security agencies for doing their best, but insisted that there must be a change of strategy if government must defeat the insurgents.
Shettima told newsmen: “I made it emphatically clear to Mr. President that the Boko Haram are better armed and better motivated.
“Anybody who is following events in this country can attest to the fact that they have a very smooth sail overrunning communities, killing people.
“Have we ever succeeded in thwarting any of their plans?
“They went to Konduga and did what they wanted to do.
“They held sway for over five hours before they left.
“They were in Kauri, Idzge and I don’t blame the Nigerian military honestly.
“We the leaders should be held responsible for our failure in leadership.
“In Idzge alone, we lost 106 people and they raided eight other communities.
“So until I get back home, today or tomorrow, I cannot give you the exact figure.
“But some were hospitalized with very great injuries so I am afraid the figures might climb.
“Well, in a nutshell, what we are being confronted with is that we are in a state of war.
“That is what I came to update Mr. President on.
“The sooner we stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day, and marshall all resources towards visualizing the antics of Boko Haram, the better for all of us.
“But the bottom line is that we need more resources, more votes on ground.
“In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and the Police, they are doing their best given the circumstances they have found themselves in.
“But honestly Boko Haram members are better armed and are better motivated than our own troops.
“And believe me, I am an eternal optimist as I have always said but I am also a realist.
“Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram.”
Asked possibility of election holding in the state in 2015, a visibly disturbed governor retorted: “It is foolhardy for anybody to talk about election when human lives are at stake.
“Power comes from God and He gives power to whom He wants.
“I don’t care whether elections are held but I do care that peace is restored in Borno and the North East sub-region.
“So people should stop playing politics.”