• Kill terrorists who won’t surrender, N’East govs urge military

• Decry environmental degradation in region

Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, has said 48 traditional rulers were killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Emirate, which comprises 16 local councils.

El-Kanemi disclosed this, yesterday, in Maiduguri, when the Managing Director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali, visited him at his palace. He said the killed monarchs include over a dozen of his relations from various districts of the emirate.

On the incessant border attacks, El-Kanemi, who is also the Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said: “Our people are subjected to many attacks, as some people from Niger, Chad and Cameroon sneak into Borno to kill and return to their respective countries. They are being arrested by the police and other security agencies.”

Meanwhile, North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) hasexpressed concern over a new dimension of banditry in the sub-region, urging the military to eliminate the terrorists that fail to surrender.

NEGF Chairman and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, made the call at the forum’s 8th meeting in Maiduguri, at the weekend. Zulum, who commended the military for the relative peace in the sub-region, which facilitated the return of normalcy in many areas, stressed the need to fish out the remaining bandits that refused to lay down their arms.

He said: “Let me use this auspicious occasion to commend our brave military in the fight against insurgency.

“I call on the military to go into the enclaves of the insurgents, who are not ready to lay down their arms. We must pursue them to their hideouts in every nook and cranny and neutralise those who refuse to surrender.”

The governor said until the terrorists were subdued, efforts to improve the wellbeing of the populace would be slowed down. Alleging that some monarchs and local authorities were conniving with the bandits, giving them cover to commit crimes, the governors resolved to deal decisively with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found harbouring or conniving with bandits.

NEGF also decried climate change and environmental degradation in the region.

According to the forum, floods affected Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Yobe states with the destruction of property and livelihoods in various communities.

The six governors raised the alarm in a 10-point communiqué after their meeting in Maiduguri, at the weekend. Led by Zulum, they lamented that climate change and environmental degradation have continued to compound silting of major rivers in the region, as well as deforestation.

“Deforestation of our forests is caused by the massive charcoal business in the six states affected by Boko Haram terrorism for over a decade,” said Zulum.

The governor, therefore, called on the Federal Government to intervene by de-silting the major rivers in the region. He stressed the need for effective control on deforestation, with stern warning on local authorities against compromise on granting approvals for the charcoal business.

“We resolved to key into the Global Initiative of Carbon Credit, the Great Green Wall (GGW) project and other initiatives that will mitigate the divesting impact of climate change in the region.”The forum, therefore, called on the Federal Government to urgently address the issue of insecurity in the region. (The Guardian)

Update news