Boko Haram recruiting members from IDP camps — Zulum
The Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has said that Boko Haram members are now recruiting their members from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Zulum said this in an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC.
Governor Zulum said, “Truly, the Boko Haram sect is working on people to join them.
”This is frightening. If the IDPs living in camps could not get what they are looking for, especially the opportunity to go back to their various towns and return to the farm, they may be forced to join the Boko Haram sect.
“It is important that they go back to their various towns because no government can continue to be feeding them continuously,” he said.
Zulum, who was highlighting plans he has made so far for the IDPs, said he has returned displaced persons to Mafa and Kukawa, while plans were on to return people to Kawuri.
READ ALSO: Army reacts to Boko Haram attack on Governor Zulum’s convoy
He said that that the military will intensify efforts and make it possible for people to return to Baga, Marte, Malam Fatori and Guzamala.
According to him, “The sect members are hiding at the Lake Chad area and the Sambisa forest. There will still be a problem unless they are traced to their hiding places. Chasing them away from their headquarters is one of the solutions towards ending the insurgency.”
On whether the insurgents still occupy some places in Nigeria, he said, “Truly, there is no place under the occupation of Boko Haram. But there are places with no people there. What I mean is that people are yet to return to their places of origin.
“I swear by Allah, before the coming of Buhari, the security situation in Borno had deteriorated. At that time, 20 local government areas where under Boko Haram. Now, it’s not so.”
Asked when Boko Haram will end, he said there are thousands of people in different IDP camps in the state. “One surest way to end Boko Haram is ensuring a good relationship between the military and civilians.”
“I keep on saying wherever you go, you will see the military and vigilante together. But what I am saying is that the military should provide protection to the civilians to enable them to return home and go back to their farms.”
Daily Times reported that Governor Zulum was recently attacked by armed men on a trip to Monguno and Baga towns to distribute food to internally displaced persons.
