Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Wednesday insisted that no part of the state is under Boko Haram occupation as being insinuated.
Shettima said although there were pockets of attacks on soft targets by the defeated insurgents, the military and other security agencies deserved unreserved commendation to enable total restoration of peace and order in the state and the north east in general.
The Governor stated this when the newly appointed Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Maiduguri.
His words, “As the Chief Security Officer in Borno state, I am grateful to President Mohammed Buhari, the Military, Security agencies, Stakeholders and people of the state for their sustained effort towards the fight against Boko Haram.
“In the last four years, our major highways that link us with other parts of the country and the entire state was under siege, but we are proud of our President and the Nigerian Army for bringing sanity and peace to our dear state.
“I am personally saddened by some Borno oppositions/politicians who have relocated to Abuja, Lagos and other places during the peak of the insurgency and making unnecessary noise regarding the calamities that befell us.
“Instead of them to pray while they relocated, they were busy raising unnecessary critics on us as government, but thank God that all their bad plans against this government end up hitting the rock.
“As government, our doors will always remain open for military to fraternize and see how we continue to give our maximum support and cooperation to end Boko Haram madness in our dear state,” Shettima stated.
He told the new GOC that being a son of the soil, who had versatile knowledge on the nooks and crannies of the state, troops under his watch will consolidate on the remarkable achievements recorded to end the lingering crisis.
Earlier, the new GOC said, he was at the Government House to officially register his presence alongside his lieutenants.
General Biu said, “I am here for three issues, first is to thank your Excellency for the support you have been providing in the business of security, present myself to you and the people of the state on my preparedness to rapidly achieve the much desired peace we are all reigning for, and to seek for your sustainable effort in supporting the military.
“I came with an open mind, ready to contribute beyond the call of my duty. Under my watch, we will continue to respect the rules of engagement so that the rights of the people will not be truncated by our sacrificial troops, as we collectively team up to end Boko Haram,” Biu said.
