B/Haram overruns 5 Adamawa local govt areas–Ngilari •Governor requests more troops
Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilary says Boko Haram insurgents have overrun five local government areas of the state. He said this in an interview with State House journalists today after the flag-off ceremony of the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAS) held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ngilari, who lamented that […]
Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilary says Boko Haram insurgents have overrun five local government areas of the state.
He said this in an interview with State House journalists today after the flag-off ceremony of the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAS) held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ngilari, who lamented that terrorist attacks had become a very big challenge for his state, asked the Federal Government to deplore more troops there.
Describing the security situation in the state as very daisy and worrisome, the governor said though his administration was trying its best to manage it, a lot of interventions were needed.
“The security situation in Adamawa is very daisy right now, and we’re only trying to do our best to manage the situation. We’re praying that it’ll improve, but it’s really something to worry about”, he said.
Asked how many local government areas have been overrun by the insurgents, Ngilari said: “I can talk of my entire senatorial district. Mubi (in Adamawa North Senatorial District). Five local governments have been overrun; Gombi, and I just got a report perhaps the outskirts of Shanli. There is a semblance of movement (of terrorists) in that area. Really, we need a lot of interventions. We need to move more troops to secure the state. Really, it is a big challenge”.
On the alleged take-over of the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh by terrorists, the governor said the insurgency should not be reduced to the take-over of Badeh’s town.
“We shouldn’t reduce this issue of the insurgency to simply the take-over of the house of the defence chief. There are a whole lot of things that make up the challenge of insecurity. What about the problem of unemployment? It’s a whole long story. We don’t just reduce it to the take-over of the house of the defence chief. I think it’s more than that. Absolutely, it’s a challenge”.
He said the security challenge should not be left to the government alone, asking the citizens to provide timely information that could assist the security agencies.
“We look up to God. God is there, there is nothing impossible for Him. We’ll do our best, but it’s not something we should leave in the hand of government. Everybody has a role to play in terms of giving out information timely, in terms of convincing people involved. They (insurgents) live with us, they’re not from planet mass. They’re part and parcel of the society.
On how soon he thought the insurgency would be over, Ngilari said: I believe that Nigeria will really overcome, but I don’t know the time frame. Anything that affects any part of Nigeria affects the rest. We must all see how we can tame this monster”.