The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has debunked the reports that the Islamic State of West Africa-Boko Haram (ISWAP-Boko Haram) appointed a governor in the state say he is in charge.
According to ReubenAbati, Zulum said this while briefing the press in the Statehouse on the purpose of his meeting with President Buhari on Monday, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
RainSMediaRadio reported, ISWAP-Boko Haram appoints a new governor, imposes taxes on Borno. The insurgents had claimed that one Abba Kaka has been appointed as the governor under a new leadership restructuring by an interim council.
According to Zulum the report that ISWAP-Boko Haram appointed a governor in Borno was unauthenticated said his administration is not investigating the issue.
“We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP appointed governor in Borno state. So, as the governor of the state, I think it’s not right for me to speak on something that I don’t have full knowledge of.”
Asked whether he would investigate, he said no, blaming the report on social media.
“Not investigating. This report is not authenticated. You have just seen somebody written something in one of the… I think it’s on Facebook or something like that. You’re a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubts, before commenting on such reports,” he stated.
“As far as I’m concerned. I’m the governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in a Nigerian state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.”
Zulum giving the details of his visit to the presidential villa said he seeks the president’s assistance to repatriate over 200,000 Borno indigenous who fled to Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic over the insurgency.
He added that the security situation in Borno has improved hence the need to bring them back.
The governor said: “Now that we have started witnessing the gradual return of peace to Borno State, these people that are taking refuge in our neighbouring countries are willing to return home.
“Therefore, the Borno State Government picked a date of 27th of November 2021 for the commencement of the repatriation process, especially to local government areas of Abadam and Guzamala.
“So, I came to brief Mr President, to solicit his support, with the view to ensuring hitch-free repatriation exercise.”
” I can’t quantify, but I think the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies – NEMA, the Refugee Commission and indeed the Northeast Development Commission, lastly the Borno State government – have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility of the repatriation exercise.”
Speaking about the internally displaced Persons (IDPs) he said they are still in the IDP camp and his administration is working towards returning them to their respective communities.
“On the issue of Internally Displaced Persons, yes, the IDP camps are not palatable, that is why the government of Borno state and indeed the federal government, are exploiting the potentials of resettling them back to their own communities or relocating them to areas that are safe,” he stated.
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