It is no longer rumour: Out of the 27 local government areas in Borno State, ONLY SEVEN remain under government control while the remaining 20 are being controlled by Boko Haram terrorists.

Confirming this over the weekend, Borno Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, named Jere, Konduga, Kaga, Bayo, Kwayakusar, Biu and the state capital Maiduguri as the only local government areas still under government control.

Mustapha confirmed the disturbing news while speaking journalists in Yola, capital of neighbouring Adamawa State, where he had gone to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno State.

He disclosed that Borno has about two million IDPs to cater for and that it recently evacuated 45,000 IDPs from Adamawa State.

The Borno State Government, according to Mustapha, “has been spending N657 million monthly” on the welfare of IDPs in various camps and established a “Free Food for All” for them currently being implemented in Maiduguri and Jere.

He commended the Nigerian military for its recent successes against Boko haram and urged it to press on until total victory is achieved aganst the insurgents.

•Photo shows Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima.