Following the relocation of thousands of residents of Jakana in in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State by the Nigerian Army ahead of a planned offensive against Boko Haram, Governor Kashim Shettima Wednesday had a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai; and the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.

The army reportedly herded residents of Jakana into trucks and ferried them 40 kilometres to a displacement camp in Maiduguri, a spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said.

The evacuated residents were relocated to the Bakassi IDP Camp for safety purposes to enable the military flush out insurgents from the area.

Shettima was accompanied by members of the National Assembly during his visit where he held separate closed-door meetings with the minister, army and intelligence chiefs.

The meetings discussed issues of security including the recent relocation of residents in to an IDP camp in Maiduguri which the military in Borno State said was for operational purpose in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.

Shettima was accompanied by chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Defence, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Hon. Betara Aliyu, respectively; the chairman, Senate committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai; two House of Representatives members- elect.

Shettima said the meeting was informed by the issues arising from the relocation of communities in Jakana, Auno and Mainok located in Kaga and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State. He said at the end of the meetings, the Borno State Government and the Nigerian military had reached a common ground.

“We have accomplished our mission. The Chief of Army Staff has granted our request and some concerns raised by the Army will all be addressed. We all know that the relocation had raised dust but we felt consultation was the best approach.

“We have access to all the security heads, especially the chief of Army Staff here who is from Borno. We have met with the Minister of Defence as you have seen. We have all come to a consensus. We also have assurances on other matters relating to the military’s ongoing fight against Boko Haram and we must acknowledge that the military has recorded huge successes not withstanding some setbacks.

“As I have always said, anyone that wants to appreciate the efforts on ground should compare with the past. We have seen the difference. We will continue to cooperate with and support the military. We will also remain grateful and proud of them,” Shettima said.

•Adapted from a THISDAY report.

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