Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum has said that Sunday night’s insurgent attack that killed 30 in Auno town happened due to the military’s absence from the community.
He stated this on Monday at the scene where the insurgents murdered 30 travellers that were stranded outside the military entrance city gate outside Maiduguri, usually locked at 6p.m.
According to the governor, the military should have drafted its personnel to protect the town as it has witnessed at least six attacks since his inauguration less than a year ago.
Zulum, who was visibly annoyed, said, “I am being pushed to the wall to say the truth.
“Since my inauguration as the governor of Borno State from May 29th to date, Auno town has been attacked for about six times now. And the reason is that the military has withdrawn from Auno town.
“We have made repeated plea to the military to re-establish a base in Auno since it is one of the flashpoints of the Boko Haram, but nothing has been done to that effect.”
When a military commander that was with the governor told him that soldiers were on ground in the community, Zulum immediately fired back: “no you were not here.”
The governor continued: “Please we are not here to fight or argue; the fact is that nobody was here.
“There were no soldiers here; they have all withdrawn. We are not being confrontational or undermining the capacity of the Nigerian military, but the fact is that we have made several attempts for the Nigeria military to establish their unit in Auno but nothing was done.
“As soon as it is 5 o’clock and they closed up their gate, they abandon the people and move over to Maiduguri. You have to tell us if you are willing to establish your unit in Auno or not.
“If you are not willing to ask your soldiers to relocate and establish their unit in Auno so that the people here can return and live their normal lives, you can tell us, so that we can know what to do as government.”
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