Military Cannot Defeat Boko Haram With What It Has..Borno Governor

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima on Monday  lamented the  terror  attacks   on communities in the North-East and declared that Boko Haram members were better armed and motivated than Nigerian troops

Briefing State House correspondents shortly after meeting with  President Goodluck Jonathan and   service chiefs  over  Saturday’s  insurgents attack on Izghe, a largely Christian community in Gwoza Local Government Area, Shettima stated that going by the rising activities of the sect, Nigeria was in a state of war.

He spoke just as the  Northern  States Governors’ Forum   said the  onslaughts  by  the sect  had  gone beyond the traditional pattern of  attacks.

Jonathan had summoned the service chiefs immediately he arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja from Lagos where he held private meetings and consultations over the weekend.

None of them spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting,  which was also attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Pointing out that the Federal Government might not be able   to defeat   the  Boko Haram Islamists, Shettima said more resources must be committed to the anti-terror war if the government really desired victory.

The governor said, “In a nutshell, what we are being confronted with is that we are in a state of war. It is what I came to update Mr. President.The sooner we stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day, and marshall all resources towards neutralising the antics of Boko Haram, the better for all of us.

“But the bottom line is that we need more resources, more vote on  the  ground. In all fairness to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Police, they are doing their best given the circumstances they have found themselves in.

“I made it emphatically clear to Mr. President that the Boko Haram members are better armed and better motivated than our own troops. Anybody who is following events in this country can attest to the fact that they have a very smooth sail overrunning communities, killing people.

“I am an eternal optimist as I have always said but I am also a realist. Given the present state of affairs, it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram.”