Borno elders have declared that territories reclaimed from Boko Haram insurgents are still unsafe for the internally displaced to return to exercise their rights to vote at the general elections, Premium Times reports.



They also raised concerns that most of the dislodged terrorists are still lurking around in the bush around the reclaimed communities.

In a statement signed by their spokesperson, Bulama Gubio, on Wednesday, the elders said that though they appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian military in ensuring that some of the villages were reclaimed from the clutches of Boko Haram, asking the displaced people to go back when it is still extremely dangerous to do so was the most uncharitable gesture towards the people of Borno state.

“We urge the Federal and Borno State Governments not to think about returning anyone to these communities without being first sure that they are safe and reconstructed…

“This is what should be done for now in the interest of humanity and for posterity to judge all of us whether in or out of Government,” the group said.

It added: “The Military had said about three weeks ago, that part of the reasons it took it a longer time to enter territories being occupied by insurgents was because of the need to regularly get rid of mines buried on most routes by insurgents. If mines could have been buried along routes, what more of communities where the insurgents lived? What more of homes they forcefully occupied?

“We have had reoccurring attacks along Ngamdu-Maiduguri road which is just some 100 kilometres away from Maiduguri that is considered the safest part of the State given security presence. We are no doubt likely to have insurgents in villages around most of the reclaimed territories and that is not to say that the military didn’t do well.

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“It is only natural that people retreat in war to either flee or regroup and whichever way is chosen, any unarmed civilian that is cited could be a target of severe revenge from what we know of insurgents in Borno State. We therefore think it will a very unnecessary risk to take, if displaced persons are returned back at the moment.

“We understand the military is engaged in mop up operations. That shouldn’t be interrupted so that not just headquarters of local government areas but indeed villages and roads within the State and those linking other States will become safe for motorists because for nearly two years and as still stand, of the five routes linking Maiduguri, only that connecting Damaturu, Potiskum, Azare to Kano is being plied by motorists even that risks are taken because of occasional attacks in Ngamdu notwithstanding heavy security presence on the route that lessened attacks compared to what was happening a year ago.

“We equally wish to plead that our people should under no circumstance be disenfranchised. We strongly advise that the forth-coming elections should hold. The internally displaced persons should be allowed to vote from their camps as earlier agreed by INEC. If elections will hold in volatile nations like Afganistan and Iraq there should be no reason to deny Nigerians under any condition of exercising their civic rights. We cautioned that reasons should be prevail for the nation to continue to be in peace.”

Despite the claims by the Borno Elder’s Forum, President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier said that Yobe state had been cleared of the Boko Haram terrorists. And though the president did not announce it, the military had earlier announced that Adamawa state had been cleared of the insurgents, leaving parts of Borno state as the only areas still under the control of the group.

Read more>>> http://www.justyouchat.com/borno-elders-say-how-safe-borno-is-to-conduct-election/

My Opinion:

The military men should still be on ground to protect the people before, during and after the election. They shouldn't relent until complete victory is achieved.

Meanwhile, Sai Buhari!
#GMB2015