Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has accused soldiers of not doing enough to protect the residents of the state.
Zulum said this when he visited Auno, a town 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, Borno state capital.
No fewer than 30 persons were killed after Boko Haram insurgents unleashed terror on travellers in Auno on Sunday night.
the governor alleged that soldiers meant to guard the community forsook the people around 5pm on a daily basis leaving them at the mercy of the marauding insurgents
Addressing Sunday Igbinomwanhia, garrison commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, at the scene of the incident on Monday, Zulum expressed is grievances over the army’s refusal to establish a military installation in Auno despite repeated appeal from the state government.
“We have to be brutal in telling the truth. I am pushed to the wall to say the truth. Since I was inaugurated as governor of Borno state, Boko Haram has attacked Auno six times. Another thing is that the military has withdrawn from Auno town,” he said angrily.
“I am not undermining the capacity of the military but we have made repeated appeal for the military to establish their unit in Auno. They are here but as soon as it is 5 pm, they close the gate and lock the people and go back to Maiduguri. This is not right.”
The crowd which flocked around governor at the scene applauded and egged on the governor as he spoke.
In his response, the army commander said the military was committed to the protection of lives and property in the state.
To why the troops where not at Anno when Boko Haram struck, he said the troops were carrying out clearance operation at other locations when the attack happened.
Igbinomwanhia said the military would not intentionally allow the people to be killed by insurgents.
He however implored the residents of the community to provide credible information to the troops in order to protect them.
It would be recalled that, In January, Zulum lampooned soldiers securing Damaturu-Maiduguri road in the state, over alleged case of extortion and exploitation at a checkpoint.
He had accused them of exploiting the people they were meant to protect from Boko Haram.
“I’m going to report all of you in this unit… nobody can tolerate this. Boko Haram is attacking people and you are here collecting N1000 per car,” he bellowed at them