Nigerian Army, Chadian Army Should Partner In Fight Against Insurgency - Zulum

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has asked the Federal Government to collaborate with the Chadian Government in its fight against terrorism.

Zulum, who has twice been a subject of attack by the Boko Haram insurgents in the space of five days, made this request at the Nothern Governors' Forum (NGF).

In a statement by the spokesperson of the forum, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the governor said, “Zulum pleaded with the federal government to ensure that Chadian soldiers are invited to join the Nigeria Army in the fight against insurgency if any meaningful success is to be recorded on the battleground.

“Zulum rationalised that no single army anywhere in the world has ever succeeded in quelling insurgency and requested that the government looked into ways of complementing the efforts of the Nigeria Army with the Chadian soldiers, emphasising it is not to undermine the Nigerian soldiers but to help them in finishing the job within a realistic deadline.

“The situation in our State has become very dire because, everything calls for endurance, commitment, and dedication if our people were to be drawn out of the woods.

“Chad Basin used to employ about 10 million people while the Sambisa Grazing Reserve and the Mandara Mountains used to employ about 3 million people but the insurgents have made these places inaccessible to the people.”

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Attack: See Full List Of Officers Killed In Borno Governor’s Convoy

Chairman of the forum, Kayode Fayemi, said pledged a N100 million donation to the government of Borno.

The statement said, “Dr. Fayemi admonished Prof Zulum to exercise caution in his activities in the state, even though he narrated how the Borno Governor always responded by saying that his life was in the hands of Allah and that death will only come when Allah wills.

“The NGF Chairman announced a donation of one hundred million Naira to the Government and people of Borno State from the NGF before handing the cheque over to the Borno governor.”

In January, 1,200 Chadian troops that had been stationed in the Lake Chad area alongside officers of the Nigerian Army, had retreated after the completion of their mission.

The troop, months later, recovered an arms store of the Boko Haram insurgents in the Goje-Chadian area, Sambisa. The store, owned by Boko Haram, was said to be one of the biggest.