Vice President Yemi Osinbajo raised alarm, yesterday, that
Boko Haram members were targeting to bomb the houses of VIPs.
This came as governors of Yobe, Ibrahim Gaidem and Borno,
Kassim Shetima also stated that the insurgents still occupied five local
governments of the two states.
Osinbajo made the disclosure during the National Economic
Council, NEC, meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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
Scavengers being prepared by insurgents to dump bombs
According to the communique, “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. (VANGUARD)
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