Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has raised the alarm
that the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) are currently recruiting
more fighters in the state.
The governor, who stated this on Wednesday when he received
the Senate Committee on Army in Maiduguri, the state’s capital, said the ISWAP
fighters are more dangerous and more funded than the Boko Haram insurgents.
According to him, if the menace is not checked on time, the
effect would be disastrous to Nigeria, stressing that the fighters are better
chased out of the country at the early stage.
He said, “I must commend the Nigerian Army for the relative
peace in many parts of the state but I want to appeal to the military to take
the war against the insurgents and chase them out because ISWAP is currently
recruiting fighters in some parts of the state.
“If nothing is done to check and tackle the growing presence
of ISWAP fighters who are better armed, better equipped, more deadly, more
sophisticated and receive more funds than Boko Haram, it will be disastrous not
only to Borno State but the country in general.
“They (ISWAP) are growing spontaneously and it is not
difficult for us to address these problems; we need to pursue ISWAP at this
early stage.
“ISWAP fighters are mounting checkpoints between Damboa and
Biu; they are collecting taxes from communities because just three days ago, I
got security information that they held a party (ceremony) with over 300
machines. Something needs to be done especially in the axis of Askira, Chibok
and Damboa.
“Another issue is that two of our local government headquarters
are still under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, Malumfatori in Abadam
Local Government and Guzamala.
“We want the owners of these two local governments to take
over, that is the government of Borno State and the two local governments.
“I have commended the Nigerian Army for the relative peace
in many parts of the state and there is nothing wrong if I ask them to wake up
from the slumber in addressing the problems of ISWAP”.
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