Boko Haram occupies eight LGs in Borno – Nigerian lawmaker

A Nigerian lawmaker, Ahmadu Jaha said on Tuesday that Boko Haram insurgents are currently occupying eight out of the 10 local government areas in Borno State.

Borno state has been the epicentre of the decade long insurgency war with the terrorists controlling parts of the state before the Nigerian military launched a series of operations to reclaim Boko Haram territory in President Muhammadu Buhari’s first tenure.

Although the Nigerian government has claimed on multiple occasions that the sect has been technically defeated, the insurgents have been gaining ground and occupying territory.

A recent story published by the New York Times noted that Boko Haram militants now control four of ten zones in Borno state. The story also said the militants now use sophisticated drones and are better armed after successful raids on military facilities.

Jaha, who represents Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok federal constituency and is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, lamented on the floor of the House of Representatives that the war against Boko Haram has not been transparent.

Jaha, while commenting on a motion for on the need for special funding for security agencies, noted that some parts of Borno state and other insurgency-related areas are under the occupation of Boko Haram.

“Let us take for instance, in a local government that has 13 electoral wards like my own Gwoza, only three or four are not under the occupation of Boko Haram.

“In Chibok, I have 10 electoral wards, only two are not under the occupation of Boko Haram. In Damboa, I have 10 electoral wards, only one is not under the occupation of Boko Haram. This is as far as Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza federal constituency is concerned.

“The same thing… the chief whip to the house can bear me witness, out of the 10 local governments in northern Borno, only two local governments and it is only their headquarters, are still not under the occupation of Boko Haram.”