By DANIEL OKE

It is shocking how words he never spoke could be attributed to Presidential Spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu. What is trending on social media are words the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari never used in his brief interview with BBC Hausa Service yesterday morning, Monday, November 30, 2020.

Find here a transcript of the interview:

The spokesperson of PMB in an interview with (Labaran BBC Hausa Safe) BBC morning service said this is a time of mourning and to plead with Nigerians on the security situation.

He further said PMB is concerned and worried about the loss of lives in the country even if it’s one life talk less of many lives.

He also said, the govt. is not under estimating the security situation.

He equally acknowledged the efforts of security agencies in keeping the vast majority of the country in peace.

Mal Garba then followed up with these clarifying tweets in the evening:

“The State of Borno is essentially a military zone up till now that we are talking and much of what people do, much of where they go are governed by the exigencies of security.

“Routinely, traders, administration officials and even UN Agencies get the green light to go to many of the areas to avoid trouble.

“Information from the security agencies says that the Zabarmari marshlands are infested with land mines and movements in around those areas subject to military oversight.

“No one is delighted with the massacre in Zabarmari and there is nothing anybody will gain by playing blame games.

“The question I tried to answer on BBC was: did the security sign off on the areas as being free of mines and terrorists? The honest answer is: NO.

“I am human with tons of compassion and empathy, and could not have said that the victims deserved their fate for ignoring security clearance.

“I was merely explaining the mode of military operations in the war zone of the Northeast. There are areas that are still volatile that require security clearance which is intended to put people out of harm’s way.

“When tragedies occur, questions arise in terms of how something happened in order to avoid future recurrence. Informing the military of our movements in an area of volatility and uncertainty is intended to preserve public safety.

“Explaining why something happened doesn’t mean I have no sympathy for the victims. I was just explaining the military procedures on the safe movement of the people and not supporting the death of the victims.”

Daniel Oke writes from FCT Abuja.

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