Following the Friday's abduction of at least 35 travellers by Boko Haram along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road in Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum on Monday expressed his disappointment in the Nigeria military for failing to secure communities and travellers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. 

The Borno State Governor expressed his anger on Monday during his visit to Jakana, one of the major towns along Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. Zulum said it was disheartening that the Nigeria military has failed to secure Auno to Jakana, a distance of about 20 kilometres where the majority of Boko Haram attacks have taken place in the last 2 years. 

Recall Eons Intelligence reported that Boko Haram insurgents dressed in military uniforms attacked a large convoy of commuters near Garin Kuturu in Jakana, on Damaturu-Maiduguri road on Friday at about 17:00 p.m.

“I have had occasions to defend the Nigerian military in order to boost the morale of commanders and their troops at the front lines because I know the true picture of things, however, I am really disappointed that despite all support from both the federal government and from us in Borno state, our military is failing to secure an area of 20 kilometers, which is the distance between Auno and Jakana. And incidentally, majority of Boko Haram’s attacks along this Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road, keeps happening between Auno and Jakana. So, if the military cannot secure 20 kilometers, how can they keep us with the hope they will defeat the Boko Haram?” Zulum said. 

Governor Zulum also knocked the entire security forces in the state (Nigeria Army, RRS, Vigilantes, and local hunters) for not manning the Maiduguri- Damaturu road, thereby giving room for the Boko Haram criminals to operate unhindered. 

“With all you (journalists) we drove from Maiduguri to here, Jakana. We did not see soldiers on the road, we did not see even our own rapid response squad on this road and they were trained, employed, kitted and paid to protect all Nigerians within their areas of operation and these Nigerians include travelers plying this busy and important road” the governor noted.  

The Governor promised residents that he would hold an emergency security meeting to come up with more measures to secure the highway while urging citizens to support the military and sharing information on the activities of the insurgents. 

Zulum however assured residents along the road that he was going to immediately hold a security meeting and hopefully come up with more measures to secure the highway. The governor urged citizens to continually support the military by sharing information that would generate credible intelligence on the activities of insurgents.

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