13022020

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
SOUTH-EAST SECURITY SUMMIT —From left: President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John
Nnia Nwodo; Bishop of Anglican Communion, Enugu, Emmanuel Chukwuma; Enugu and Ebonyi
Governors, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Chief David Umahi; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed
Adamu; Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra; Deputy Governor of Imo, Prof. Francis Njoku; Gov. Okezeie
Ikpeazu of Abia State and representative of South-East Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu,
during South-East Geo-Political Zone Security Summit in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
Boko Haram hits Borno as Buhari visits,
runs into storm
By Ndahi Marama, Johnbosco Agbakwuru,
Dirisu Yakubu, Luminous Jannamike,
Tordue Salem, Shina Abubakar & Ibrahim
South senatorial district, Ali
Hassan
M AIDUGURI—
Barely hours after
President Muhammadu
Buhari left Maiduguri after
paying a consolation visit
to the city over killing of
over 30 persons at Auno
village on Sunday, the
insurgents, yesterday,
launched attack on Jiddari
Polo general area of the
metropolis, as residents fled
their homes into the heart
of the city.
President Buhari had ran
into a storm during the visit,
yesterday, as some
residents booed his convoy
on his way to the Palace of
the Emir of Borno
Jiddari Polo General Area
is a densely populated
area on the outskirts of the
metropolis, close to the 21
Giwa Armoured Barracks.
A resident, Mallam Yusuf
Unman, said: “Our
community is currently
under Boko Haram attack,
there are deafening sounds
of gunshots and
explosions, but I was lucky
to have mobilised my
family and fled into the
heart of the city to reunite
with one of my relatives.”
Although the sounds of
the gunshots subsided at
7:12pm, many residents
who fled into the city were
still stranded at press time.
One of the fleeing
residents, Adamu Garba
told Vanguard at about
7:30pm, he sighted a large
number of armed
policemen, members of the
civilian JTF with military
troops heading towards the
area of the attack as he
struggled to enter the town
with his family in his private
car.
This came as the
President said more
proactive and decisive
measures would be taken
by the Federal Government
to put an end to the Boko
Haram menace once and
for all, saying there couldn’t
be Boko Haram without
knowledge of local leaders.
Also, the House of
Representatives asked the
Federal Government to
declare a state of
emergency on security in
the country, while the
senator representing Borno
Ndume, asked
government to engage
mercenaries to finish off the
insurgent group.
President Buhari had
arrived Maiduguri from
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
where he attended African
Union summit since last
Friday, to condole with the
people over last Sunday’s
Boko Haram attack which
claimed over 30 lives at
Auno village.
The attack also left 18
vehicles, shops and houses
razed, after food items
being conveyed to
Maiduguri by trucks were
looted.
As the convoy of the
President made its way to
the Palace of the Shehu of
Borno, His Royal Highness
Abubakar Ibn Umar Gabai,
in company of Governor
Babagana Umaru Zulum,
some residents, mainly
youths, shouted in Hausa:
“Bama so!” “Bamayi!”,
meaning “we don’t want;
we’re not interested,
because you have
disappointed us.’’
Surprisingly, during the
2015 and 2019 general
elections, Borno people
massively voted for the
President, the area being
one of his strongholds.
During his previous visits
to the state, crowds always
lined up the streets,
chanting “Sai baba!”
‘Security
improvement’ll
be pursued’
Speaking during the visit,
the President said the
Federal Government,
beyond ensuring that more
proactive and decisive
measures would to be taken
to put an end to the Boko
Haram menace in the
country once and for all,
noted that intelligence
sharing and synergy
between law enforcement
agencies and the civil
populace were critical
towards achieving the
objectives.
He said: “I assure you
that improvement in
security will be pursued
vigorously. The military will
work harder and strategise
with tactics to deal with the
insurgents. This is,
however, not possible
without good intelligence
and cooperation with local
community leaders.
“Boko Haram cannot
come up to Maiduguri or
environs without the local
leadership knowing
because traditionally, the
local leadership is in
charge of security in their
own respective areas.
“I want to call on the
leadership at various levels
to cooperate with law
enforcement agencies and
let us deny Boko Haram
access to our loyal citizens.
“We will do our best and
I hope history will be kind
to us; to recall what was on
the ground when we came
and what will be on the
ground when we leave.”
In his remarks, Governor
Zulum thanked the
President for identifying
with the state in these trying
times.
He praised the efforts of
the military so far,
wondering why some
Continues on Page 40
By Bose Adelaja &
Olayinka Latona
On clamour for regional security outfits (2)
I
am in total support
of regional policing
to complement the
federal policing system
we currently have.
Regional security outfits
will secure each region
as well as strengthen the
security architecture of
the country thereby
making the country a
safe place to live and do
business.
-Farouk Olaotan Shitta
Entrepreneur
In as much as different
regions are tired of
relying on the FG for
protection, the decision to
start creating regional
security outfits needs to be
defined. We cannot keep
defying the rules and
expect stability. Policing is
not the exclusive
responsibility of the FG by
virtue of section 153
subsection 216 of our
constitution.
- Jude Oseh
Youth Advocate
I
think it’s a good
development. Since
the internal security
structure is nothing to
write home about, it is no
crime if every region
wants to take an extra
step to secure their
people. However, I
foresee a clash becuase
the animals used to
represent the outfits are
dangerous. May God
see us through!
-Tijani Jeff
Artistic Director
I personally think the
plans by the regions to
form security outfits is a
good one and they will
assist the federal
security. It is obvious the
federal security outfits
have not been able to
meet this challenge.
Regional security outfits
might not be the total
solution to the nation’s
insecurity but it will go
a long way.
-Olaniyan Temiloluwa
Linguist
The regions can only try
to curb crimes but the
question is, for how long?
Restoring peace and
sanity in the country takes a
whole lot of effort and not all
the regions will want to take
up that responsibility.
They can come up with
other practicable measures.
I suggest they leave security
matters in the hands of the
government.
-Iseyemi Elizabeth
Modupe
Student
The establishment of
Amotekun is a good
one by Southwest
governors. Level of
insecurity in Nigeria is
high - from Boko Haram
to bandits, kidnappers
and herdsman. If the
police cannot protect the
people then it is not a
bad idea if the various
regions decides to
protect themselves.
-Stephen Obawe
Student