- Claims attack on soldiers, police armoury looting
- Gov Shettima bans motorcycles in Maiduguri
- Borno now worse than war zone – Monguno
By Mohammed Isa, Abuja & Mustapha Isa Kwaru, Maiduguri
Members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunnah Liddaa’awati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram yesterday rejected the apologies tendered to them by the Governor of Bauchi state, Mallam Isa Yuguda, and former governors of Borno and Gombe states, Ali Modu Sheriff and Muhammad Danjuma Goje respectively, as earlier demanded by the sect.
In a statement made available to the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Islamic sect said it would only accept the apologies by the trio, if they fulfilled the other two conditions it gave them.
The yet to be met conditions, according to the BBC report monitored yesterday in Abuja, are that the governors should renounce the democracy being practiced in the country, and in its place conscientiously work to promote Islam.
The group however appealed to residents of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to exercise patience and bear with the prevailing situation in the city.
Also in the statement, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for Tuesday night’s attack in Bauchi state, where a police station in Toro local government area of the state was ransacked by gunmen, who carted away arms and ammunitions, as well as the bombing on Wednesday of a patrol team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to foster peace and order in Maiduguri, where three soldiers were reported to have been killed.
In the meantime, as part of measures to stem the tide of the incessant killings by suspected members of the Boko Haram, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state yesterday placed a total ban on the use of motorcycles, both for commercial and private use, in Maiduguri, the state capital and Jere local government area.
Prior to the latest measure, the use of motorcycles were restricted between 6.00am to 6.00pm. The policy was apparently introduced because most operations of the gunmen were carried out using bikes, which makes it easier for them to flee.
Briefing newsmen at the Government House in Maiduguri, Governor Shettima said the measure was imperative as part of security strategies to find lasting solution to the persistent violence in the town.
The governor also explained that the ban, which took effect from 2.00pm of yesterday, followed recommendations of the state Security Council, which were made in its report, recently submitted to him.
According to him, though government was not unmindful of the anticipated hardships that may befall the public following the ban, he urged them to exercise patience, as sometimes people have to encounter some temporary predicaments in order to enjoy sustainable peace.
He further stated that in a bid to cushion the negative effects of the new policy, government would procure 5000 commercial tri-cycles and 100 buses to be used for intra-city movements.
He said the tri-cycles would be used in the two local government areas, while the buses are to ply the major streets of the capital city to ease the foreseen transportation problems.
Shettima assured the people of the state that government was on top of the situation, and with God’s guidance, very soon the security challenges would come to an end, adding “that the journey to attaining peace is protracted and it takes time to achieve so.”
The Borno chief executive also declared that if the Boko Haram gunmen shift their attacks to the remaining 25 local government areas of the state, government would be compelled to extend the bike ban to the entire state.
He said Nigeria is multi-ethnic and religious nation that should learn to tolerate one another for peace to reign, stressing that no religion preaches violence as an instrument of resolving grievances, even as he said “we still reiterate our readiness to dialogue with the sect’s members”.
Our correspondent reported that tension was high in the state capital as streets and major roads were deserted at about 12.00pm, with low vehicular movements, due to the presence of heavy security personnel patrolling the town.
Similarly, schools, banks, markets and other commercial centres were shut down as early as 1.00pm.
Some of residents, who spoke on the ban, described it as “ill-timed” and capable of causing yet another suffering for the masses, stressing that it would not in any way curb the serial killings.
“This is injustice. How can a government which was saddled with the mandate of eradicating the plight of its people now introduce this wrong idea, knowing that majority of residents have solely relied on commercial bike operators for their transportation,” Malam Goni Mohammed, a trader decried.
Another resident, who simply identified himself as Musa Hassan, an okada rider, condemned the ban, saying that, it was capable of causing poverty and unemployment among the teeming youths, who embraced okada operation as a means of livelihood.
“For God’s sake what can we do and where can we go to earn a living as our only source of livelihood was blocked”, he further lamented, adding that, “I can assure you that the ban would not solve the violence as the Boko Haram gunmen would devise another tactic of operations”.
However, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, has called on the government to convert the commercial vehicles of the state-owned transport company, Borno Express, to township operations to ease the imminent transportation problems due to the new policy.
Speaking to newsmen at his palace yesterday, El-Kanemi observed that the vehicles should be directed to commence intra-city services, prior to the procurement of the 5000 tri-cycles and 100 buses.
In a related development, the JTF has said it observed with dismay the unacceptable behaviour of some residents in Maiduguri who allegedly allowed the surroundings or frontages of their houses to be used for nefarious activities.
Spokesman of the JTF, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, in a statement yesterday, strongly warned that henceforth appropriate action would taken against those found harbouring criminals, adding that owners of makeshift kiosks who allow for their use by suspected criminals would be dealt with.
Meanwhile, an elder statesman, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, has advised the Federal Government to urgently adopt appropriate measures to address the persistent insecurity bedeviling Borno state, saying the prevailing intense situation was more horrible than what Nigerians had experienced during the civil war.
Dr. Monguno, who was Nigeria’s first indigenous minister of petroleum resources, gave the advice yesterday, while chatting with newsmen in his residence in Maiduguri.
He urged the government should do all it takes to restore peace so that residents could sleep with their two eyes closed.
According to the elder statesman, the violent campaigns ravaging the state were getting out of control, saying all authorities concerned should engage the aggrieved group in a dialogue, “no matter what it takes”.
“I served at the UN under various representations and that whenever there was a feud between two parties, we always proffer solutions through reconciliation”, he said, adding that, “for this I am making a humble appeal on the authorities to adopt same strategy and end the bloodsheds sooner.”
The one time petroleum minister admonished those perpetrating the violence to embrace peace and dialogue as means of pursuing their grievances, as Islam does not in any way condone violence in achieving an objective.
“Islamic principles provide that two parties who are engaged in a feud must resolve their differences within three days, otherwise, the wrath of Almighty God will befall them,” he further added.
Dr. Monguno equally admonished people of Borno state to return to God, repent and pray to seek divine intervention over the loss of lives rocking the state, adding that, “everyone is pushed to the wall, and if we seek God’s guidance and blessing this mayhem will be over”.
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