A senior government official has warned that Nigeria’s northeastern region may soon fall entirely into the hands of Boko Haram militants unless urgent measures are taken.

“With the effrontery of the insurgents, who seem to be capturing territories with ease, very soon, the three north eastern states will become history if urgent steps are not taken to address the situation,” deputy governor of northeastern Borno State Anna Mustapha told reporters on Monday.

“If the Federal Government will not add extra efforts, in the next three months, the three North-East states will not be in existence,” he warned.

Mustapha said that more and more northeastern towns have fallen into the hands of the militants, calling on the government to double its efforts to reverse the trend.

“We appreciate the Federal Government for trying its best, but its best had not been enough,” he said.

“Rather than going after the insurgents, it is the insurgents that are going after us,” Mustapha said.

In the past week, Boko Haram militants seized more territories, despite a government claim of striking a cease-fire with the militant group.

On Monday, at least 21 people were killed and 60 others wounded when a suspected suicide bomber attacked a crowd of Shiites gathered for the yearly Ashura procession at a school in Potiskum town in the northeastern Yobe State.

Nigeria has battled the Boko Haram insurgency in the past five years during which tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced.

•Source: Anadolu Agency. Photo shows Boko Haram insurgents on the move.