THE Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has mentioned over 2,600 insurgents who surrendered are in custody however mentioned not all of them are criminals.
He additionally famous that over 100,000 individuals have been killed by terrorists within the North East alone over the 12-year-long battle.
Zulum mentioned this whereas briefing State Home Correspondents after a gathering with the President, Main Common Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He defined that lots of those that surrendered had been ladies and youngsters who had been compelled to hitch the insurgents. He famous that lots of them had been skilled to wield AK-47 rifles including that they are going to be handled in accordance with the regulation of the land.
The governor, nevertheless, mentioned those that surrendered can be skilled for reintegration, saying, “No regulation recommends the killing of insurgents who willingly turned themselves in.”
He equally assured that the federal government would do every part inside its powers to cater for victims including, “They won’t be left behind.”
Zulum mentioned, “I got here to temporary Mr President over the continued give up by insurgents. I believe, to me, and the better majority of individuals of Borno State, it is a excellent growth.
“Within the final 12 years, 1000’s of lives had been misplaced, individuals have fully misplaced their technique of livelihood. Now we have a complete variety of over 50,000 orphans and widows; these are official figures.
“The unofficial figures are greater than this, and we had been capable of domesticate no more than three per cent of our whole arable land due to the insurgency and proper now, the whereabouts of not lower than 10 p.c of individuals of Borno State isn’t identified to all of us in any respect.
“This can be a very critical matter and I believe the report of the surrendering of the insurgents, to me specifically and to the better individuals of Borno State, is a really welcome growth. Except we wish to proceed with an limitless battle, I see no cause why we must always reject these which are prepared to give up.”
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This materials, and different digital content material on this web site, might not be reproduced, printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in complete or partially with out prior specific written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]