Borno Governor Criticizes Reports Alleging That Military Help Terrorists

Borno State governor Kashim Shettima criticized media reports alleging that military are linked with Boko Haram.

The mentioned reports, which have recently gone viral, credit to an unknown Nigeria soldier, who was heard on the Hausa Service broadcast of the Voice of America claiming that top military leaders were working in tandem with Boko Haram.

Reacting to the story Governor Shettima said:

"Of all conspiracy theories being alleged of the Boko Haram, the most dangerous, as far as I'm concerned, is to raise such grievous suspicion around our security forces. When citizens grow such suspicion and believe in it, I'm afraid, Boko Haram can light fireworks to celebrate a grand victory of setting up citizens against the security agencies."

Expressing his confidence in the security sources fighting against terrorism in the troubled regions, the governor urged Nigerians to understand that faced with the insurgency, the security agencies are all the country has and asked people to respect the work they are doing.

"I know the number of military men, police men and women as well as para-military men and women, among them commanders in the military and senior police officers, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against our unfortunate insurgency problems in Borno, which also obtains in some parts of Nigeria."

Stressing that terrorists will do everything possible to cause confusion, the official asked people not to yield to manipulations and not to lose focus.

According to him, is it also very important for the media to work in cooperation with the military and Nigerians, because raising unneeded suspicion can only lead to disintegration, which can be used by the terrorists for their advantage.