North East Govs Urge Military To Eliminate Hardened Insurgents

• Insist no more mercy for those who refuse to surrender

Not in any way ready to tolerate and pamper criminal elements terrorising and making lives uncomfortable for their people, North East Governors’ Forum has urged the military to kill insurgents that fail to surrender in the ongoing mass surrender by terrorists in the sub-region.

The Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, who spoke on Saturday in Maiduguri at the 8th meeting of the Forum, commended the Military for the relative peace in the sub-region that facilitated the return of normalcy in many areas.

Professor Zulum said there was a need to smoke the remnants that refused to surrender from their hideout, noting; “Let me use this auspicious occasion to commend our brave military in the fight against the insurgency which remains unquestionable while their determination to succeed is very glaring.

“No doubt, they have considered and acted upon a wide range of options in the fight against terrorism, thereby recording tremendous progress which has clearly indicated that the end to the insurgency in the sub-region is fast approaching.

“I want to call on the Nigerian military to reach into the enclaves of the insurgents who are not ready to lay down their arms. We must pursue them to their hideouts in the remote nook and cranny and neutralize those who refuse to surrender.”

The governor, who decried the negative effect of insurgency that affected the socioeconomic activities in the sub-region, said until the terrorists were subdued, efforts to improve things would be slowed down.

The governor also spoke on the erratic rainfall recorded this year, and last year’s flood which devastated food and infrastructure in the sub-region, and urged for the Federal Government’s intervention.

He said on their part, the northeast governors had taken measures to repair some of the damages done, adding; “I urge us to collectively strategise and develop new adaptable farming methods to mitigate the impact of the low rainfall on crop cultivation this farming season.

“Therefore, there is the need for us to focus more on irrigation farming this time around more than ever before.

“I urge the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to focus on the support for irrigation farming in the sub-region in addition to its key mandate of providing critical infrastructure for the sustainable development of the sub-region.”

The governor who also spoke on illegal mining, sought a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals in curbing the activities of such miners.

He also drew the attention of the forum to the recent amendment to the 1999 Constitution which saw the removal of Power Generation and Railway Transportation from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

He said that the development was important for them to exploit towards the provision of independent power supply and rail transportation in the sub-region.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who graced the meeting, commended the governors for deliberately forging unity amongst themselves to face existing and emerging challenges despite their differences in political ideologies and party differences.

Shettima, currently on a two-day official trip to Maiduguri for the commissioning of projects executed by Governor Zulum, flagged off of palliatives distribution by the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC)  and the opening of the Northeast Governors Forum meeting in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital.

He further called for unity between diverse leaders and other stakeholders across the northeast in order to address challenges facing the geo-political zone.

Also, urging National and State Assembly members in the Zone to uphold the same values, the Vice president tasked the governors to sustain the tempo.

In attendance at the meeting were the host Governor of Borno State, Prof Zulum; Governors of Adamawa – Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Bauchi – Bala Mohammed; and Yobe- Mai Mala Buni were in attendance, while those of Gombe and Taraba were represented by their Deputies. – With NAN reports