I’m in charge in Borno, not ISWAP — Gov. Zulum

“We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP appointed governor in Borno State”

Few days after Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) declared with relish that they have appointed a governor for some parts of Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum, has dismissed the claim, saying “l’m in charge”.

“As far as I’m concerned. I’m the governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in a Nigerian state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.

“We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP appointed governor in Borno state.

“So, as the governor of the state, I think it’s not right for me to speak on something that I don’t have full knowledge of,” he told State House correspondents on Monday in Abuja.

Persecondnews recalls that the insurgents had announced the appointment of Abba Kaka as the governor of Borno.

While blaming the social media for the report, Zulum said: “We are not investigating. This report is not authenticated. You have just seen somebody written something in one of the social media.

“I think it is on Facebook or something like that. You’re a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubts, before commenting on such reports.”

Zulum said he was at the Presidential Villa to seek President Buhari’s assistance to repatriate the over 200,000 Borno indigenes who fled insurgency to Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

” I came to brief Mr. President, to solicit his support, with the view to ensuring hitch-free repatriation exercise.”

“The security situation in the state has improved, hence the need to bring them back.

“Now that we have started witnessing gradual return of peace to Borno State, these people that are taking refuge in our neighbouring countries are willing to return home.

“Therefore, Borno State government picked a date of 27th of November 2021 for the commencement of the repatriation process, especially to local government areas of Abadam and Guzamala,” the governor said.

On the cost of repatriating, he said: “I can’t quantify, but I think the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies; NEMA, the Refugee Commission and indeed the Northeast Development Commission, lastly the Borno State government, have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility of the repatriation exercise.”

On the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still in camps in the state, Zulum said:” On the issue of internally displaced persons, yes the IDP camps are not palatable.

“That is why the government of Borno state and indeed the federal government, are exploiting the potentials of resettling them back to their own communities or relocating them to areas that are safe.”