Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the National Economic Council meeting at Abuja yesterday raised alarm on one of the toughest insurgents Nigeria has ever battled with, Boko Haram. In this piece, he revealed those that they are targeting. It was also stated by the governors of Yobe and Borno that Boko Haram still occupies major parts of the state they govern.
The Vice President, who decried the effect of the insurgency on the economic life of the north east, stated that public enlightenment needed to be carried out through radio and television to create more awareness.
He also argued that pressure should be mounted on the new service chiefs to stem the rising tide of insurgency in the country.
Meanwhile, there was no specific mention of the location of the VIP’s houses which the insurgents were said to be targeting for attack.
His concerns were contained in the communique issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen
According to the communiqué issued to newsmen at the end of the meeting, “The Vice President regretted that the insurgency has affected the economic life of the north east and the country as a whole. He called for the council to speak as a team to put pressure on the service chiefs to increase their effort in fighting insurgency.
“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television. The Vice President also disclosed that security report has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs.
“Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi States took turns to inform the council of security concerns in those regions,” while “Governors of Yobe and Borno raised the alarm of five local government areas of the two states still being in possession of the insurgents”.
The governors called for increase in military deployment and provision of sophisticated military equipment in those areas, insisting that “insurgents were still hiding in the Sambisa forest.”
While lending his voice, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State “suggested that special economic angle should be introduced in addition to military intervention to deal with Boko Haram problem.”
On cattle rustling and banditry, NEC stated Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State disclosed that most of the cattle rustlers were in Kumuku national part, saying that if not properly handled, it could result to another Sambisa forest.